Weight loss surgery is something that a lot of people are turning to because regular dieting may be impossible or very difficult for them. Why is regular dieting hard for some? Well, dieting consists of also exercising and some individuals may be unable to exercise the way they need to because of the amount of weight they are carrying, because of a physical injury or disability, or because of an illness that prevents them from doing so. Perhaps there are other health factors that keep them from dieting the way they need to. That's when weight loss surgery becomes an option.



The different types of weight loss surgery

There are five different types of weight loss surgery that a person can opt for. Those types are:

-Vertical Banded Gastroplasty - The stomach is divided into two parts with surgical staples. The upper part is the smaller part so that the intake of food can be reduced. A small opening is placed between the two parts so that food can slowly move into the larger section. There is also a band placed around the opening so that it doesn't enlarge. There are some complications involving wearing of the band and the staple line breaking down. It is rare, but stomach juices may leak outside of the stomach or infection could result.

-Lap-Band Surgery - A band that is inflatable is used to divide the stomach into a smaller section and a larger section. Just with Vertical Banded Gastroplasty, a small opening allows food to make its way to the larger part of the stomach for digestion. The band is inflated by injecting saline into a valve. Saline can also be taken away. People should be around 100 pounds overweight to receive this surgery and they need to be individuals who have failed at loosing weight through other means that have been supervised by a doctor. Risks are minimal, but some side effects such as heartburn and nausea may exist.

-Roux-en- Y Gastric Bypass - This surgery is more involved in that the stomach is divided into two parts by surgical staples. However, the small stomach pouch is connected to the middle of the small intestine. This is so food goes directly into the small intestine. The amount of nutrients and calories that are absorbed by the body are reduced. That can have its pros and its cons. Some have been known to become nutritionally deficient. If food moves too quickly through the small intestine, "Dumping Syndrome" can occur.

-Biliopancreatic Diversion - This is a procedure that is not used in the United States because it involves removing a part of the stomach and then connecting the remainder to the end of the small intestine. Basically, the food is deposited into the colon around the area in which bile and digestive juices are still mixed with the food. This is the least frequently used method because of nutritional deficiencies.

-Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy - This is a procedure that only 15 surgeons worldwide perform. It restricts the amount of food a person can take in. There is no bypassing of the intestines, but the stomach is basically cut in half vertically rather than divided into two horizontal halves. The larger part is removed.

If you're considering surgery

If you're considering surgery, you now know of five different types of surgery, including lap band. Yes, two of these are not performed as often as the others, but it is still good to know they exist in case these methods are available to you. Each has its pros, it's cons and each have their own risks. Be mindful of all of it.