A mountain of evidence shows that dieting doesn’t work for the vast majority of people who want to lose weight. In fact, many people who try to lose weight through diet and exercise end up gaining more weight in the long term.
Minimally invasive surgeries offer alternatives to diet and exercise fads that usually fail. If you want to lose weight, then you should consider these five surgical options.
LAP-BAND Surgery
LAP-BAND surgery uses an inflatable silicone band that reduces the size of your stomach. By reducing the size of your stomach, you can’t overeat without discomfort.
Many patients like LAP-BAND surgery because their doctors can tighten or loosen their bands whenever they want. This makes it possible for you to control your stomach’s size throughout your life.
LAP-BAND is also considered one of the safest procedures because it only requires small incisions that heal quickly.
Sleeve Gastrectomy
Sleeve gastrectomy is a permanent procedure that’s often useful for severely obese people who cannot exercise. During the surgery, your doctor will remove a portion of your stomach and the upper part of your intestine.
Sleeve gastrectomy can benefit you in two ways. Reducing the size of your stomach prevents you from overeating. The procedure also limits the production of ghrelin, a hormone that makes you feel hungry.
Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Surgery
Gastric bypass surgery is the most common bariatric procedure performed in the United States because it has such a high rate of success. Since the procedure requires minimal incisions, patients can recover quickly.
During laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery, your doctor will create a stomach pouch that holds about two ounces of food. The pouch gets connected to the intestine. By reducing the stomach’s size and connecting the pouch to the intestine, your body will absorb fewer calories when you eat.
Orbera Gastric Balloon Surgery
During Orbera gastric balloon surgery, a small balloon gets inserted in your stomach. Inflating the balloon with saline makes you feel full even when you eat less food.
Orbera gastric balloons are temporary. Most patients use them for up to six months. During this time, you can learn portion control. Since it’s temporary, many people prefer Orbera over other surgical options.
Revisional Weight Loss Surgery
Although gastric surgery is one of the most effective ways for people to lose weight, some patients experience weight gain several years after the procedure.
When diet and exercise cannot control weight gain, patients can return to their surgeons for revisional weight loss surgery.
The doctors at Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery have ample experience performing all five of these weight loss options. If you’re serious about meeting your health goals, you should contact the practice to learn more about your surgical options.
