Bariatric surgery Houston refers to many different surgical procedures commonly performed on people who have clinical obesity. These surgeries are not for people who have minor weight problems. Surgery is usually the last option, only after diet, exercise, and possibly medication.
Bariatric surgery procedures
There are several procedures that are performed very commonly in bariatric surgery Houston. The most common and most well-known is lap band surgery. Lap band surgery involves reducing the volume of the stomach with a band. Lap bands are the most common surgical solution to obesity, but they are certainly not the only solution. Some doctors working in bariatric surgery Houston also remove portions of the stomach. Another popular and commonly used procedure involves resecting and re-routing the small intestine into the stomach. This particular procedure is referred to as gastric bypass surgery, and is the bariatric surgery procedure that has been around the longest.
Is bariatric surgery effective?
Most evidence supports the conclusion that bariatric surgery is effective in reducing the medical problems commonly associated with obesity. Bariatric surgery usually results in considerable long-term weight loss, recovering from diabetes, a large improvement in the health of one’s heart, and a decreased risk of death from factors related to obesity. The risk of death drops from around 40% to roughly 23%, which many doctors and patients suffering from obesity feel is worth the moderate risks of bariatric surgery.
Bariatric surgery may not be as effective for seniors. A study amongst Veteran’s Administration patients did not find a increase in survival rate for seniors that were severely obese. Doctors speculated that this demographic had already suffered a great deal of adverse medical affects due to their age and the severity of their condition. The fact remains that bariatric surgery is significantly beneficial to the majority of people.
Who should get bariatric surgery?
Bariatric surgery is not for everybody. In fact, it is not helpful for people who are overweight, but not obese. Surgery, as previously mentioned, is generally considered to be a last resort. An obese person who goes to a doctor for surgery is usually told to try diet and exercise. If this doesn’t work for them, the doctor will often prescribe a medicine to accelerate fat loss. Only if this doesn’t work will the doctor recommend surgery.
To be a good candidate for bariatric surgery, the patient needs to have a BMI in the “obese” category. This is generally considered to be at least a BMI of 30. Not all people who have a BMI at this level cam significantly benefit from surgery, but those who have serious adverse health effects can. Patients who have BMI ratings of 35 or higher usually do have adverse health effects, and can benefit from surgery.