Discuss Weight Control Options With Bariatric Surgeons NJ Residents Count On

By Olive Pate


Many individuals fail to have success at losing the extra pounds they need to despite considerable efforts to exercise enough and eat the proper foods. Some obese individuals in Ridgewood, NJ need to lose weight because their condition is causing other illnesses, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. People who have tried everything else without success should talk to bariatric surgeons NJ residents depend on for effective weight control.



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.

The four most common surgeries are the gastric bypass, the gastric band, the duodenal switch, and the vertical sleeve gastrectomy. The adjustable gastric band fits over the top portion of the stomach to limit its capacity to hold food. Instead of being able to hold approximately three pints, the stomach can only hold about one ounce. The surgeon can adjust the band as needed by injecting saline.

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.

Duodenal switch surgery is the most involved and is irreversible because portions of the stomach are removed completely to make the food pouch more compact. The risks of developing complications are the highest after this procedure. This surgery requires a more intense reconfiguration of the intestines to allow food to pass through only a short portion of the small intestines before reaching the large intestines. Because this procedure changes how the body absorbs nutrients, patients must begin a lifelong habit of supplementing the diet with essential minerals and vitamins.

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.

After the surgery, patients must have regular medical follow-up, sometimes for the rest of their lives. They have to adjust to eating smaller meals forever because the results are permanent. The more involved surgery options are irreversible. Patients who fail to follow through with regular exercise and eating healthy foods are at risk of gaining weight even after surgery.

Severely overweight individuals are at risk of developing a wide range of diseases, including type 2 diabetes, severe sleep apnea, and cardiovascular disease. Having surgery can help reduce the risk of developing certain life-threatening illnesses. People who decide to go through with bariatric surgery must realize that the medical procedure alone is not a long-term solution. Patients must follow the procedure with healthy lifestyle choices, including exercise and a nutritious diet.




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