Bariatric surgery helps the morbidly obese lose weight by preventing them from overeating. This is done by making your stomach and intestines smaller. Through the bariatric operation, the amount of food you can eat and digest is limited by changing the anatomy of your digestive system. For many who are overweight with a BMI of at least 40 and others with a BMI of 30 and who have some serious medical conditions like diabetes, it is crucial that body weight is reduced to a safe level. Bariatric surgery is meant to accomplish this. Bariatric surgery is a wonderful approach for obese people who are unable to follow a weight loss program or exercise. By restricting the size of the stomach or causing decreased nutrient absorption, and sometimes both, bariatric surgery produces great health benefits in cases such as type 2 diabetes and also in preventing cancer.
Gastric sleeve, gastric band, and bariatric bypass surgeries are the commonly performed bariatric surgeries. The surgeon in this discipline will determine the nature of the surgery necessary in a particular case. Sometimes a real mix of these types suits a particular case. Surgery is performed under general anesthesia. There is no established or universal method for performing bariatric surgery. Some surgeries are open while others are laparoscopic. After bariatric surgery, your lifestyle must change to make it easier for you to lead a normal life. Surgery is done to limit food intake. Very often, the capacity of the stomach after the operation is drastically reduced to a few ounces of solid or liquid food. Initially, after your bariatric operation, you may feel drained of energy, but soon your body adjusts to the new circumstances. You can return to your normal activities within six weeks after bariatric surgery.
The patient’s diet is altered after the bariatric operation. The gastrointestinal tract takes 1-3 days to recover after surgery. The patient is kept on a liquid diet until then. This diet consists of clear broths, diluted fruit juices, or sugar-free gelatin desserts. They are then given a bland diet of pureed foods such as cream of wheat, protein drinks, cream soup, or mashed potatoes with gravy for no less than fourteen days. Soon after bariatric surgery, any food intake beyond the reduced capacity of the stomach causes a feeling of sickness and vomiting, which curbs overeating. To compensate for the reduced intake of essential nutrients, many patients are given lifelong vitamin pills. In most cases, doctors prescribe a diet that is high in protein and low in carbohydrates and alcohol to compensate for the loss in the amount of food intake. It should be noted that a carefully crafted eating plan will allow for further weight loss and keep your system healthy.
You have to spend an amount ranging from $18,000 to $35,000 if you have bariatric surgery. The other charges are for body contouring, diet plans, fitness programs, and removal of excess skin. Some of the costs may be covered by health insurance. The costs of most extremely obese patients are covered by insurance.