Gastric Bypass Surgery

We live in a society that worships thinness. In centuries past, the larger woman was the object of envy and the thin woman looked sickly. Now the opposite is true. Although most women and men too are overweight, the stigma of obesity simply won't go away. We have made some strides as we now have Plus Size models who present themselves as very beautiful women who are larger than the stick thin models we normally see. This obsession with thin bodies has made scores of women feel worthless and ugly. The diet business is raking in the money even though we know that diets generally don't work in the long run. What is the person to do who is obese, not healthy, and miserable to do? Many people, men and women alike, have decided to stop the diet rollercoaster and take drastic action, gastric bypass. This procedure seems to be the only way out of obesity and shame.

Gastric bypass is a procedure performed on very obese persons for the purpose of weight loss. With gastric bypass, a patient can lose 50 to 90 percent of their unhealthy extra weight in about one year. There are three different types of gastric bypass surgery: Laparoscopic, Roux-en-Y and silicone band. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages. Let's take a look at what each procedure involves:

Laparoscopic Procedure: This type of gastric bypass surgery involves inserting a small camera into the abdomen so that the surgeon can easily view the inside of the abdomen during the procedure. Like all types of gastric bypass, the stomach will be sewed into a pouch that makes it smaller. Doing this restricts the amount of food that can be comfortably consumed, which leads to reduced calorie intake and eventual weight loss.

Roux-en-Y: This type of gastric bypass surgery involves the top of your stomach being stapled. This stapling creates a pouch which is connected to the intestine. The results from this procedure are the same as they would be for the laparoscopic procedure described above.

Silicone Band Procedure: The silicone band procedure is similar to the other two procedures because the stomach is made smaller via the creation of a pouch. Except instead of staples, this procedure involves using a silicone band.

The type of gastric bypass surgery a person ends up having usually depends on the preferences of their surgeons. After thoroughly examining and evaluating you, your surgeon will decide which form of gastric bypass surgery is best for you. Be prepared for lots of consultations and tests prior to your surgery.

Gastric bypass is a costly procedure, but sometimes is covered by insurance. If you're not sure whether or not your insurance plan covers gastric bypass, talk to your insurance plan administrator. They can tell you whether or not the surgery is covered on your policy. Often, you'll pay part of the costs and your insurance company will pay the rest.

Gastric bypass can be an effective way for the very overweight to shed unhealthy extra pounds. However, like all surgical procedures, there are risks involved. Make sure you've discussed gastric bypass at length with your doctor and understand all the pros and cons of this procedure before committing.

Copyright 2006 Jim Sterling - All Rights Reserved

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