Gastric Banding – Sleeve Gastrectomy – Gastrict Bypass

Being drastically overweight can cause great misery to a person, and can often make it much more difficult to lose the excess weight, dieting will cause severe hunger pangs as your stomach is not used to such little intake, this can make you feel light headed and weak, only adding to your misery. You will usually feel self conscious about your body opting to cover up in baggy clothing, your stamina will be low affecting normal day to day activities. All of these things can lead to depression and a lacing of self confidence.

Obesity often causes health problem, as well as reducing your life expectancy, your chances of suffering from heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and certain types of cancers increase greatly.

When you are excessively overweight and have failed to lose weight dieting and your health is at risk, and possibly your life, it is probably the time to consider  one of the following to lead you on the way to a healthier lifestyle:

• Gastric Banding
• Sleeve Gastrectomy
• Gastric Bypass

Gastric  Band   - A gastric band which is also commonly known as a 'lap band' is a band that is placed around the stomach reducing the capacity of the stomach the band can be adjusted to accommodate more or less food. Gastric banding is considered to be the least invasive compared to other surgeries of this nature. You will have a shorter stay in hospital, and a quicker recovery time. The band restricts movement of food to the lower part of the stomach, allowing the stomach to hold less food and making you feel fuller after meals.

A gastric band will help you achieve your ideal weight and lead you to a healthier lifestyle, reducing your chances of suffering from obesity related health problems and diseases.

In order for the gastric band to be successful you will need to maintain a healthy diet after surgery, regular exercise will also help you maintain your weight.

A gastric band will change your eating habits as you will be unable to consume large amount's of food thus changing your diet habits completely – something that should stay with you long after surgery.

Sleeve Gastrectomy– This is a weight loss procedure and involves the removal  of a large part of the stomach, your stomach is then attached with surgical staples forming a 'sleeve' – hence the name, sleeve gastrectomy & surgical sleeve.

Sleeve gastrectomy is also known as a gastric sleeve. After this procedure patients usually lose large amounts of weight, during surgery around 85% of the stomach is removed leaving your outlet valve and stomach nerves intact.

Your stomach functions are not affected – there will be no restrictions on what you can eat other than the fact you will consume less and feel fuller after meals.

This type of procedure is best suited to those who are extremely overweight, most patients typically lose 30 – 50% of their excess weight within 12  months of surgery.

The fundus of the stomach is removed during surgery, this is the area that secretes ghrelin, a hormone that make you feel hungry, by removing this you no longer feel hunger pangs.

The procedure is quite simple and usually takes under an hour to complete, this is done through keyhole surgery and under general anaesthetic.

Benefits of this procedure include a greater sense of well worth, you will feel more self confident, and less self conscious about your body, giving you an overall sense of well being. You will also have a much healthier lifestyle having lost vast amounts of excess weight, smaller portions will become a part of your everyday life – having an overall positive effect on your life.

Gastric Bypass–A gastric bypass divides the stomach into a small upper pouch and rearranges the small intestine to allow the upper and lower stomach to stay connected. This form of surgery reduces the amount of consumable food needed to to fulfil hunger, and reducing one's appetite. This type of surgery is for those who have been unsuccessful with dieting and for thos who have a high BMI (Body Mass Index).

Gastric bypass is one of the most common forms of bariatric surgery. It is similar to a gastric band in the sense that it creates a small pouch and divides the stomach. It is a very effective form of weight loss and if combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise, weight loss will be long term.

You do not have to be extremely overweight to have this type of gastric surgery.

Any type of gastric surgery is effective and once you see the effects of weight loss it will give you the motivation to lead a healthier lifestyle – For people who have struggled to lose weight and have tried numerous diets, gastric surgery is a good option and can be life changing for a person, leaving you feeling happier & healthier and looking great.