Weight loss surgery basics
Cost
It is difficult to determine this without finding out if you’re a candidate for bariatric surgery. If so, we would need to find out which bariatric surgery you will need and other factors. However, we accept all major insurances. The best way of getting these answers is by booking your initial consultation for bariatric surgery in Grapevine.
Before surgery
You will be asked to make several lifestyle changes before bariatric surgery, such as limiting alcohol consumption, stopping smoking, eating mindfully and drinking more water.
Additionally, in order to ensure you’re healthy enough for bariatric surgery and can have long-term success, your bariatric surgeon will likely ask you to perform several tests, such as an EGD, labs, psychological consult, nutrition visits and any other tests your surgeon deems necessary for your particular case.
After surgery
All surgical procedures come with some level of risk depending on the type of surgery and several factors relating to the patient’s body. Some risks may include infections, bleeding, acid reflux, blood clots, food intolerance, diarrhea, cramps and other gastrointestinal symptoms
However, for most patients, the health risks from obesity (such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea) far outweigh the risks associated with bariatric surgery.
Revisional surgery
Revisional surgery is an option for patients who have already undergone a bariatric surgery and may need another one due to complications with their first weight loss surgery.
Revisional surgery is also an option for those who have regained weight or haven’t lost enough weight following bariatric surgery.
Weight loss surgery options and risk factors
In many cases, patients may require some extra help to achieve their weight loss goals. Through shared decision-making, you and your physician may decide that the best path to achieving a health weight is the surgical weight loss path.
The bariatric surgeons here in Grapevine have extensive training in many weight loss surgery procedures, including:
- Duodenal switch
- Gastric band adjustments
- Gastric band conversion
- Gastric band removals
- Gastric bypass
- Gastric sleeve
- Gastric sleeve conversions
- Bariatric surgery revisions
Below you will find the anatomical diagrams for our weight loss surgery options. You will also find the risks, advantages and disadvantages, so read on to gain a better understanding of your surgical weight loss options.
Ultimately, which surgical option is best for you is something you and your surgeon here in Grapevine will determine together.
Gastric sleeve surgery
Currently, sleeve gastrectomy (gastric sleeve) is the most commonly performed well loss procedure not only in the United States, but globally. It is a restrictive operation to permanently remove about 80% of the stomach, which will then be able to hold the equivalent of about 3-7 ounces of liquid. This surgery is also a metabolic operation that not only severely restricts the amount of food that you can eat but it also has some hormonal metabolic effects, as well.
Expected weight loss
When accompanied by healthy lifestyle changes, after the gastric sleeve operation one can expect 70-80% of excess weight loss.
Risks
Some of the potential gastric sleeve surgery risks include:
- Bleeding
- Leaking
As with any surgery or procedure there are risks, albeit small, for severe complications like
- Allergic reactions
- Infections,
- Heart attacks
- Pneumonia
- Death (rare)
Gastric bypass surgery
The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass works by re-routing, re-connecting or re-wiring your intestines, so that your new stomach is only about the size of a golf ball and holds only 1 to 2 tablespoons of food.
Expected weight loss
Following gastric bypass surgery, you can expect your maximum weight loss to be achieved in about 18 months. When accompanied by appropriate lifestyle changes, you can expect to lose approximately 75-85% of your excess weight.
Risks
Some of the possible gastric bypass surgery risks include:
- Leaking (0.5%)
- Ulcers—avoid NSAIDs (5-7%)
- Strictures (5-7%)
- Dumping syndrome—very unpleasant sensation of a rapid heart rate, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and sometimes diarrhea resulting from eating foods high in sugar
As with any surgery or procedure there are risks, albeit small, for severe complications like
- Allergic reactions
- Infections,
- Heart attacks
- Pneumonia
- Death (rare)
Duodenal switch surgery
The duodenal switch, or "switch," is a weight loss operation that combines qualities of both the sleeve gastrectomy and the gastric bypass surgery. The duodenal switch operation is performed in two steps. First, we perform a sleeve gastrectomy to remove around 70-80% of the stomach, which converts the stomach into a slender tube.
We then divide the small bowel that normally connects to the stomach (called the duodenum) to create the bypass portion of the surgery. After food enters the "sleeved" stomach, it goes into the initial part of the small intestine, but then it is re-routed, or "switched," to the lower part of the small intestine (the ileum).
Expected weight loss
Of the four weight loss operations that we offer, the duodenal switch is the most drastic. As a result, it creates the most weight loss. With the "switch," patients can expect to lose between 90-100% of their excess body weight.
Risks
Potential duodenal switch surgery risks include:
- Protein calorie malnutrition
- Mineral and vitamin deficiencies
- Internal hernias (<2%)
- Gallstones
- Temporary hair loss
- Bleeding
- Developing incisional hernia
As with any surgery or procedure there are risks, albeit small, for severe complications, like:
- Allergic reactions
- Infections
- Heart attacks
- Pneumonia
- Death (rare)