About Bariatric Surgery |
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Weight
loss surgery, or bariatric surgery, was developed in the 1950's
and has been revised over time to be a safe and effective treatment
for morbid obesity. The first laparoscopic gastric bypass was
performed by Dr. Alan Wittgrove of San Diego, California (mentor
to Dr. Cavazos, our medical director) in 1993. In 2005, an estimated
175,000 people in the United States underwent bariatric surgery,
according to the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery. Currently, there are two basic approaches to weight loss surgery: restrictive operations and operations that combine restriction and malabsorption. Restrictive procedures (such as a adjustable gastric banding (Lap-Band®) and sleeve gastrectomy) simply limit the amount of food that a person can eat at one time. Combination procedures (such as gastric bypass) help give patients the feeling of satisfaction from only a small amount of food and lessen the amount of calories that are absorbed from the food eaten. Read more about the different types of weight loss surgery in our Types of Surgery section. Bariatric surgery has proven to be not only the most successful method for weight loss, but is also responsible for the resolution or improvement of many other serious medical problems. For example, studies have shown a resolution of Diabetes in 83% of patients, and an 82% risk reduction for cardiovascular disease. 72-98% of Gastroesophageal Reflux is resolved, as well as 74-98% of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. There are several studies that are also showing a significant decrease in several cancers as well. Overall, there is a 30-40% reduction in 10-year mortality. Your surgery is only the first step towards your successful weight loss. Follow-up with our medical team is critical to ensure you maximize your weight loss and that you do it safely. Lab work needs to be done periodically to monitor your nutrition and vitamin levels, and regular post-op visits are necessary to make sure you are on the right track in terms of your diet, exercise, and behaviors. Weight loss surgery is a lifetime journey; not a one time event. We look forward to helping you on this journey every step of the way. |
