Explore Weight Control Options With Bariatric Surgeons NJ Residents Trust

By Olive Pate


Many severely obese individuals living in Ridgewood, NJ have tried everything they know possible to lose the extra weight. When even the most restricted diet and strenuous exercise fail to produce the desired results, many people start to consider bariatric surgery as an option. This is especially true if the obesity is causing medical complications. Anyone who wants to discuss this option with a professional can find bariatric surgeons NJ residents rely on for help.

Bariatric surgery reconfigures the stomach, the intestines, or both in a way that restricts how much food the individual can consume. Some procedures change the way the body absorbs nutrients and calories. All surgeries are effective in promoting healthy weight loss when accompanied by the right lifestyle choices.

Gastric band surgery is the least complicated and alters stomach configuration without removing any of it. An adjustable band is clamped around the stomach in a way that reduces the food pouch to a capacity of one ounce. This is considerably less than three pints, which is a stomach's capacity before the procedure.

A gastric bypass is slightly more invasive than the gastric band insertion. In this procedure, the surgeon makes the patient's stomach smaller by stapling the tissue together. This surgery requires a second step. The surgeon reroutes the stomach to empty into the intestine beyond the duodenum. After this surgery, the body absorbs fewer nutrients and calories.

The duodenal switch procedure is the most effective, the most complicated, and the riskiest of the bariatric surgical procedures. The surgeon removes some of the stomach and detaches it from only a portion of the duodenum. The small intestine is reconfigured so food only passes through part of it. Patients who opt for this surgery must understand the results are irreversible and they will have to supplement their diet with vitamins and minerals for the rest of their lives.

Vertical sleeve gastrectomy is another procedure involving removing stomach tissue. The thin sleeve that remains connects the esophagus to the beginning portion of the small intestines. Patients are unable to eat as much after surgery and have lower levels of ghrelin, the hormone that triggers appetite.

All bariatric surgery procedures require lifelong lifestyle choices that patients must commit to if they want to keep the weight off over the long term. It can be difficult getting used to chewing food carefully and eating smaller meals. Many patients will be under a physician's care forever to monitor progress and make sure they are receiving the proper nutrition. Adopting a healthy diet and a rigorous exercise program are critical for keeping the weight off for good.

Individuals who had obesity related illnesses before the surgery will often see dramatic improvement in health after the procedure. They are at lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and severe sleep apnea. Surgery alone does produce short-term weight loss but patients must make healthy lifestyle choices about exercise and diet to enjoy long-term success with this type of weight loss program.




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