Surgical Weight Loss Options for Obesity?

Gastric bypass surgery is intended for people who are at least 100 pounds over their ideal weight and who have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or greater. Many people who pursue this surgery have other conditions, such as chronic pain or Diabetes, which could be improved with significant weight loss. They also have typically had several previous attempts at weight loss that were unsuccessful.

There are several steps which a patient must go through before the gastric bypass surgery can be performed. Insurance approval must be attained before the rest of the process even begins. Not all insurance providers cover this surgery, and the ones that do may require a written statement from the patient outlining why they need this surgery and their previous history regarding attempts at weight loss.

If insurance approval is obtained, the next thing the patient is required to do is have an individual meeting with a nutrition counselor who will assess their current diet and make suggestions for future improvement. They will also be required to attend educational sessions about the post-surgery lifestyle with other patients who are interested in bariatric surgery. Finally, surgery candidates will be required to undergo a psychological evaluation to insure they are mentally stable and understand the risks of surgery and what is required once surgery is completed.

In preparation for surgery, the patient is required to abstain from solid foods and is only allowed to ingest clear, decaffeinated liquids for the 48 hours prior to the procedure. He or she may also require an enema if there is too much waste in the body for the surgery to proceed.

During the surgical procedure, a small pouch is created at the top of the stomach using surgical staples or a plastic band. This is connected to the middle part of the stomach. When food is consumed after surgery, it bypasses the majority of the stomach and small intestine, which is what allows for the rapid weight loss. Gastric bypass surgery is considered major surgery and it requires up to six weeks of recovery time along with permanent lifestyle changes.