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Continued From Page 34 gastric bypass involves creating a small stomach pouch and bypassing most of a patient ’ s stomach by rerouting a portion of the small intestine . The small stomach pouch helps with food portion control . Rerouting the small intestine causes favorable hormonal changes that help with weight loss . This is the preferred operation for patients with severe acid reflux symptoms and severe type 2 diabetes . Gastric balloon , duodenal switch and loop duodenal switch are other less commonly performed operations . Laparoscopic gastric band was once one of the most commonly performed procedures but is now rarely used because of poor long-term weight loss and technical complications .
Bergen New Bridge Medical Center By Dustin Cummings , M . D ., MPH , Board Certified Surgeon
Bariatric surgery is performed for obese individuals ( BMI 35 or greater ) in whom previous diet and exercise attempts have not yielded sustained or successful weight loss . The most common types of bariatric surgery performed in the United States are the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy , and the laparoscopic gastric bypass . These surgeries alter the digestive tract and result in either smaller stomach volume , decreased intestinal calorie absorption or both . As the obesity epidemic worsens , the number of bariatric surgeries continues to increase , with an estimated 256,000 surgeries performed in 2019 . Both options are safe and have a risk of mortality of less than 1 percent , and a low complication rate . Patients can expect to experience an overall improvement in their health and comorbid conditions , such as improvement or elimination of sleep apnea ( snoring ); improvement of high blood pressure ; reduction in the need for insulin or a cessation of diabetes ; improvement in cholesterol ; reduced joint pain ; and many other heath and quality of life improvements . Most important , current evidence shows that obese patients who undergo bariatric surgery enjoy a longer life span than patients who do not undergo bariatric surgery .
East Orange General Hospital By Naveen Ballem , M . D ., FACS
Obesity surgery has advanced over the last several decades . With current technologies , including a laparoscopic and robotic approach , we have seen better outcomes , quicker recoveries and fewer complications . The most common procedure performed in the country is called the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy . In this procedure , we take the stomach , which has stretched over time , and reduce it by
80 percent to 85 percent of its current size . Patients now have a smaller stomach and therefore eat smaller portions , which enables them to feel full with smaller portions and they lose weight . Simultaneously we see a significant reduction of “ hunger ” hormones Ghrelin and Leptin , which suppress one ’ s appetite and helps patients not only lose weight but helps them maintain it long-term . With the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy , patients tend to lose between 60 percent and 70 percent of their excess weight and a significant amount of their medical issues . We see an incredible improvement in disease like obstructive sleep apnea , type 2 diabetes , hypertension , and migraines . I get very excited about improving my patient ’ s health , but my patients always remind me how losing weight has improved their quality of life . I have patients that have lost over 100 pounds and are running marathons , running around with their kids or simply running up a flight of stairs without getting winded , all of which they couldn ’ t do prior
“ For patients who are severely overweight , bariatric surgery can provide significant and sustained weight loss , reduce medical complications of obesity and extend life .”
to their surgery . The most common comment I hear initially is how patients are scared and nervous to take the first step . The most common comment I hear at six months after surgery is that this was the best decision they have ever made and that my patients wish they had made this commitment 10 years earlier .
Englewood Health By James McGinty , M . D ., Chief of Surgery and Surgical Services
For patients who are severely overweight , bariatric surgery can provide significant and sustained weight loss , reduce medical complications of obesity and extend life . Although there are several options for surgical weight loss , the two most widely accepted and performed procedures are the vertical sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass . At Englewood Health , weightloss surgery with a laparoscopic ( minimally invasive ) technique is standard and 80 percent of our patients go home the next day , most experiencing only mild discomfort following surgery . With advanced techniques and improved recovery protocols , patients recover more quickly with fewer side effects . Many people are surprised to learn that weight loss is a result of hormonal responses in the body and not simply a restriction of calories consumed . Patients suffering from severe obesity are at risk for many life-threatening health problems . Studies have shown that weight-loss surgery for those who are severely overweight can improve or reverse a majority of complications of obesity , including diabetes , heart disease , high blood pressure , sleep apnea , asthma , joint and back pain and other disorders . Our program includes a team of bariatric surgeons , registered dietitians , mental health professionals and others , and emphasizes education , ongoing support , integrative medicine services and support groups .
Hackensack Meridian Health , Hackensack University Medical Center By Hans Schmidt , M . D ., Chair , Dept . Bariatrics
The two most common bariatric or weight-loss surgeries are the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy . Both of these are performed laparoscopically through five small incisions for patients with a body mass index ( BMI ) over 40 , or over 35 with an obesity-related health condition . These conditions include diabetes , high blood pressure , high cholesterol or sleep apnea . Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is the gold standard and patients lose up to 80 percent of their excess weight . This surgery is performed by making the stomach into a small pouch and bypassing part of the intestines . The sleeve gastrectomy is the most commonly performed procedure and removes a portion of the stomach . After the sleeve , patients lose an average of two-thirds of their excess weight . Both procedures control the amount of food a person can eat and reduce the hormones that control hunger . After surgery , they have significant improvement in their obesity-related health conditions . Up to 70 percent of patients who have weight-loss surgery see complete resolution of diabetes , high blood pressure , and high cholesterol . Sleep apnea is reversed in almost 100 percent of patients after both procedures . In addition , patients see improvement in arthritis , migraines , depression and report an overall improved quality of life .
Hackensack Meridian Health , Jersey Shore University Medical Center By Seth Kipnis , M . D ., FACS , FASMBS , Medical Director of Bariatric and Robotic Surgery
The majority of weight-loss surgery in 2021 consists of sleeve gastrectomies , gastric bypass and revisional operations . These operations are designed to prolong life expectancy and reduce
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