Bariatric Surgery
Weighing more than is considered healthy for your height can mean you are overweight, obese or morbidly obese. Morbid obesity (“morbid” means “causing illness or disease”) is the term applied to individuals who weigh approximately 75 to 100 pounds over their ideal weight. Morbid obesity is a condition often associated with many serious and life-threatening disorders.
Being seriously overweight is not caused by one single factor but rather by a number of them. The number of calories one consumes plays a big part, to be sure, but so do a variety of other factors — including metabolism, genetics, behavioral and medical issues, and your social environment.
Knowing what your weight means in terms of your health is an important step in treating obesity. The more you know, the better equipped you’ll be to discuss treatment options with your doctor and to make decisions about what will work best for you. Bariatric surgery, combined with regular and proper nutrition as well as exercise, helps you lose significant weight by altering how your body takes in and metabolizes food.
The McBee Surgical team use a variety of surgical procedures to help individuals achieve a healthier weight and lifestyle.
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RGB)– The small intestine is divided about 18 inches below the stomach, and is re-arranged so as to provide an outlet to the small stomach and maintain the flow of digestive juices. The lower part of the stomach is “bypassed”, and food enters the second part of the small bowel within about 10 minutes of the start of your meal. Food intake is restricted and the amount of calories and nutrients the body absorbs is reduced. The result is a very early sense of fullness, followed by a profound sense of satisfaction. Even though the food portion size may be small, you won’t feel hungry or feel like you’ve been deprived. You’ll continue to enjoy food; you’ll just consume a lot less.
Gastric Banding (Lap-Band) – During the gastric band procedure, the lap band is placed around the uppermost part of the stomach, dividing it into two parts: a small upper pouch and a lower stomach. The upper pouch can hold only about 4 ounces (1/2 cup) of food. As a result, you eat less food at one time, feel full sooner, and feel satisfied longer. The goal is to lose weight gradually, at a healthy rate of 1 to 2 pounds per week. No part of your stomach is stapled or removed during surgery, and your intestines are not re-routed, so you can continue to absorb nutrients from food. The lap band is made of biocompatible materials, allowing it to be placed inside your body without causing harm. The side of the band that fits against your stomach is lined with a soft balloon. After the gastric banding surgery, saline (a safe liquid) is delivered into the balloon to control the band tightness. The degree of band tightness affects how much food you can eat during a meal and the length of time it takes for food to empty from the upper pouch. When the band is adjusted to the proper tightness, you’ll feel full sooner and stay fuller longer. As the band helps you eat less food, your body will stop storing excess calories and start using its fat supply for energy.
Sleeve Gastrectomy – The surgeon essentially creates a smaller stomach, shaped like a narrow sleeve by separating it from the larger portion of the stomach. The larger part of the stomach contains a hormone responsible for appetite, so after the sleeve procedure, hunger is greatly reduced. All the functions of the stomach remain intact, only its volume is reduced. The
“sleeved” portion of the stomach remains connected to the intestines.
This is a safe and effective way to achieve and maintain a healthier weight. This operation is also a viable alternative for those patients who have specific conditions that prohibit gastric bypass surgery.
Any surgery contains a certain level of risk. Be sure to speak with your physician to determine which weight-loss treatment option best fits your needs. The highly experienced bariatric surgeons at K and B Surgical Center have collectively performed over 5,000 weight loss surgery procedures. Call 541-204-1479 to register for and attend one of our information seminars on Bariatric Surgery.