What is bariatric surgery?

The bariatric surgery is a branch of surgery that encompasses all surgical procedures aimed at weight loss.

These procedures are applied, above all, in people suffering from morbid obesity and in those who, due to their weight, suffer from serious diseases such as diabetes or hypertension.

This type of surgery focuses on changing the functioning of the digestive system so that you can process food more efficiently, while decreasing its impact on your weight.

Although bariatric surgery is safe, minimally invasive and effective, it has its risks, which is why it should always be performed by a bariatrica physician specializing in weight loss treatments.

If you are having trouble losing weight, and have unsuccessfully tried all kinds of options to try to reduce it, bariatric surgery could be the solution you are looking for.

So, here we tell you all about it.

What is bariatric surgery?

It is a weight reduction surgery, also called obesity surgery, it is mainly oriented to people with overweight and obesity, who have a BMI (body mass index) over 30 and who suffer from any disease due to their weight, such as diabetes.

What does bariatric surgery consist of?

All the bariatric surgeries consist of making cuts in the stomach and in some cases, in the intestine. The intention is to reduce the size of the stomach so that it has less capacity to process food, making it easier for you to feel full and decreasing your appetite.

There are several processes that must be followed for a successful surgery, a pre-operative phase and then the recovery phase after surgery.

Each phase of the surgery is indispensable.

During the first phase, the patient's clinical case, body mass index, level of obesity, multiple examinations, including psychological evaluations, are studied.

Once the first phase is completed, the bariatric surgeon will authorize and assign a day to proceed with the surgery.

The last phase, the recovery process, is the most complex, requiring a change in eating habits and a special strict diet for at least one month, among other actions that will be indicated by the bariatric surgeon.

What is bariatric surgery for?

Bariatric surgery serves to eliminate excess weight in the body quickly and effectively, and is especially recommended when conventional methods, such as diets, changes in eating habits or physical exercise, do not work.

It also reduces the risk of suffering from obesity-related diseases, such as hypertension, heart problems, diabetes, stroke, among others.

It also reduces the absorption and impact of calories and sugars in the body, reducing their impact on your weight. 

In some cases, it reduces the production of the hormone ghrelin, which stimulates appetite, so its decrease in your body will also reduce your cravings for food.

What are the risks of bariatric surgery?

The bariatric surgeriesAs with any other operation, there are some risks involved. The mildest are the most common, such as nausea, diarrhea or heartburn. But if the necessary care is not taken, it can even cause hemorrhages, gastritis, infections or scarring problems.

However, despite the risks, the operation is quite safe. 

To avoid some of the minor risks you can try not to eat too much food too quickly and follow a strict diet after the operation.

With all this, your bariatric surgeon will help you, so it is very important that you have a qualified specialist specialized in this type of procedure.

How long does it last?

The bariatric surgeriesgenerally speaking, The operation lasts between 1 and 2 hours and a half, depending on the degree of complexity of the operation and also on the patient's characteristics. 

For example, the gastric sleeve usually lasts less time because it is a simple operation. But bypass surgery, being more complex, may have a longer duration. 

In any case, the operation is unlikely to last more than three hours.

What types of bariatric surgeries are there?

There are mainly two types of bariatric surgeriesGastric sleeve and gastric bypass.

Gastric sleeve

The gastric sleeve is a bariatric surgery which consists of making a cut in the stomach to reduce its size. One part of the stomach will be removed and the other part will remain in the shape of a banana or sleeve, that is why it has that name.

Of all the bariatric operations is the most commonly applied by surgeons, because it only reduces the size of the stomach without altering the entire digestive process. 

With the gastric sleeve it is possible to lose between 20 and 40 kg of weight, but the physical results will take between 1 or 2 years to be seen.

Gastric bypass

The gastric bypass o Y de Roux is a bariatric surgery which consists of dividing the stomach in two, a large part and a small part. 

In this way, the small pouch will be used as the new stomach, much smaller than the original one, and the large part will be isolated from the digestive tract.

This small pouch will then be connected to a section in the middle of the small intestine, so that not only will you process less food, but waste will travel quickly through the intestine. 

The resulting shape of this operation is a "Y". These are the two parts of the stomach, connected by separate pathways to the small intestine.

The bypass is the bariatric surgery most complex, but also the most efficient.

During the first two months you will be able to see physical results in your body and in one year you can lose between 50 and 60 kg of excess weight.

Gastric balloon

The gastric balloon is a weight loss procedure in which a silicone device is implanted in the stomach to produce a feeling of fullness and mitigate hunger and the amount of food a patient can eat.

It is the least invasive procedure of all in bariatric surgery, except for the gastric balloonThe results are great, helping to lose up to 25 kilos in some cases.

Together with the gastric sleeve, it is a very popular procedure because of its safety and because it does not alter the functioning of your digestive system. pros and cons of the gastric balloon to find out if it offers you what you are looking for.

What is the best bariatric surgery?

There is no one surgery better than the other, each one has its advantages and disadvantages. The gastric sleeve is less complex, with a lower price and a faster recovery, but it takes between 1 and 2 years to see the physical changes and the operation is irreversible.

On the other hand, the gastric bypass is more complex, a little more expensive, but more efficient, the results start to be seen a month or 2 months after the operation and it is a reversible operation.

But you will probably have to take vitamin supplements for many years and the recovery time is much, much slower.

If you are concerned about choosing the least invasive weight loss operationIn this case, the ideal would be the gastric balloon, which offers good results, does not affect your digestive system and is completely reversible.

As you can see, each one has its advantages and disadvantages. The patient's clinical picture, the specialist's recommendations and the patient's own decision will determine which is the best surgery for you.

If you want to know more in detail about which operation is better for you between the bypass and the sleeve, take a look at our post in which we compared the gastric sleeve vs. gastric bypass and don't take a look at the differences between the gastric sleeve and the gastric balloon.

Main benefits of bariatric surgery

• You can lose about 40-60 kg of excess weight.
• You can reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, etc.
• By eliminating weight problems you will be able to lead a different lifestyle, doing activities that you could not do before, improving your physical and mental health.
• You will keep your weight balanced, it will be easier to diet and you will not feel cravings.

How do you know if you need bariatric surgery?

As we have already mentioned, you will know that you will need a bariatric surgery if you suffer or suffer from morbid obesity, that is, if you have a body mass index greater than or equal to 30 (BMI>30), also if weight problems are harming your health and if methods such as dieting or exercise have not worked.