Fat has become an epidemic, especially in the state of Texas. Which is among the first twelve states of this country that has more than 30 percent of the adult population obese.
Fortunately today there are several surgical procedures that ensure weight loss with success from 50 to 77 percent from six months to two years after the procedure.
We speak with Dr. Jorge Leiva who is a specialist in these three procedures. Doctor Leiva what is the difference between these three procedures: Gastric Bypass is the most effective and decreases the Tamayo of the stomach and alters the absorption of nutrients in the intestine. The gastric sleeve also decreases the capacity of the stomach and contributes hormonally diminishing the appetite and finally, The Adjustable Band also decreases the capacity of the stomach. But it is the least effective and used today.
Which do you recommend? All three as I said are effective. Fortunately, patients today have much access to information via the internet or specialists in the field. They also have the recommendation of family and friends who have experience of the procedure. That is why in most cases patients already know what procedure they want and we help them make sure they make an informed decision. I prefer the Gastric Bypass and the Gastric Sleeve over the Gastric Band. The latter requires more maintenance by the patient.
Who are the ideal candidates for this procedure? Anyone who is over 100 pounds or 50 kilos overweight. Also, the “Body Mass Index” (BMI) is used, which is calculated by dividing the weight by squaring (kg / m2). This calculation classifies the weight in terms of what is healthy or not. People with a BMI over 35 are candidates for this procedure. Although health insurance requires a BMI of over 40.
The success of these procedures is observed in two ways: the first six months with a loss of 50% of excess overweight. And a 70 to 77% loss of excess weight in two years. The most important success is the safety of the operation, with minimal complications and no mortality. How long does the operation last? These three procedures are performed with laparoscopic surgery with minimal invasion. The sutures are 1.5 to 2 cm. These last for 50 to 90 minutes and the patient can return home the next day.
Once at home the patient should be active, walking frequently with minimal rest in bed. The person can return to work and start the activity without weight for ten or fifteen days. But you must wait six weeks to start more demanding and heavy physical activities. Dr. Jorge Leiva is a specialist in General and Bariatric Surgery. Www.drleiva.com