What is a bariatric bypass and how exactly does this type of surgery work?
This question is on the minds of many obese individuals these days, especially as bariatric bypass surgeries become more popular as a treatment option (and more frequently covered by the media).
If you ask a surgeon who specializes in bypass surgery about this type of bariatric procedure, he or she will likely tell you that it’s one of the best forms of bariatric surgery available. But he or she would be biased, don’t you think? After all, if a surgeon performs bariatric bypass surgery for a living, you can hardly expect that surgeon to give you the full story about such surgeries.
In truth, however, the bariatric bypass (a.k.a. gastric bypass surgery) is currently being overshadowed by newer and less invasive forms of weight loss surgery. When you combine this with the new studies about the long-term ill effects of bypass surgery, it seems that the writing is one the wall. Personally, I predict that the bariatric bypass will be practically obsolete within the next ten years … maybe less.
In its place, there will be a wider variety of less-invasive bariatric surgery procedures, such as the LAP-BAND System (by Allergan, Inc.) and the Realize Adjustable Gastric Band (by Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. and Johnson and Johnson). These adjustable gastric bands — and the future versions that we will see — work by reducing the usable size of the patient’s stomach, but they do it in a much less invasive way than a bariatric bypass procedure.
Consider the difference:
With the banding types of bariatric surgery, an adjustable band is inserted around the upper portion of the stomach by way of small incisions (smaller than the incisions associated with a bariatric bypass surgery). Thus, these banding procedures are considered laparoscopic weight loss surgery — or “minimally invasive” surgery.
With gastric banding, the weight loss is achieved by limiting the amount of usable space in the stomach, thereby limiting the patient’s capacity for food. The bands are also adjustable and removable, which gives the patient options going forward.
Bariatric bypass surgery achieves a similar result, but it almost appears barbaric by comparison. With this approach, the upper portion of the stomach is also “partitioned,” as with the banding procedures. But it is not done in a minimally invasive way. On top of that, most bypass surgeries will actually reroute the small intestines to connect with the new smaller pouch of the stomach (hence the term bariatric bypass surgery).
This degree of severity is the reason why bypass surgeries are usually reserved for people who are morbidly obese.
Bariatric Surgery Complications
This is not to say that gastric banding procedures are perfect. In truth, there are certain risks and complications with all types of bariatric surgery. For example, Lap Band slippage can be a problem with some patients.
My point is simply this. When you compare these types of surgeries, it is easy to see why young surgeons just starting out in the world of bariatrics often choose the newer banding surgeries as their specialty (as opposed to the bariatric bypass surgeries). From a career standpoint, it seems to make sense. The newer, less invasive procedures will simply be around longer.
I hope this article helps you obtain a well-rounded understanding of bariatric bypass and the many other forms of weight loss surgery.
