Obesity Treatment

What is Obesity?

Obesity is a nutritional disease that results from disruptions in the coordination among several basic mechanisms, which include caloric intake, energy expenditure, and the balance between energy release and fat deposition.

These imbalances lead to an increase in adipose tissue, which is reflected in a rise in body weight. The classification of obesity is based on a formula known as the Body Mass Index (BMI), which is calculated by dividing a person's weight by their height. A BMI over 30 indicates obesity.

Mental, physical, and medical well-being are the motivations for patients to improve their quality of life and live fully.

Progressive weight reduction in a relatively short period allows patients who undergo treatment with bariatric surgery to experience significant improvements in their well-being. Bariatric surgery for obesity, such as gastric sleeve or gastric bypass, boosts patients' self-esteem and confidence, which is reflected in their attitude toward daily life.

Gastric Sleeve

This surgical treatment for obesity can achieve a reduction of up to 70% of excess weight.

The advantage of the gastric sleeve gastric sleeve is significant weight loss compared to other restrictive treatments like gastric balloons or gastric bands.

The amount of weight lost depends on each patient's individual conditions and occurs progressively over a period of 6 to 12 months. However, weight loss can continue at a slower pace for up to 24 months after the surgery.

Low Rates of Medical Complications

The method of intervention ensures that the transit of food through the digestive system remains unchanged, meaning that digestion does not skip any steps, and food passes through the entire intestine, unlike other bariatric surgeries.

Nutrient absorption continues its natural course, differing from more complex methods aimed at greater weight loss.

Intervention and Recovery

After surgery, patients typically spend 2 to 3 days in the hospital.

Specialists estimate a recovery period of 7 to 15 days, depending on each patient's specific conditions. After this period, patients can return to their activities and new lifestyle.

Initially, they will follow a liquid diet, gradually incorporating more solid foods based on the surgeon's advice until they can eat any food.

 The stomach cannot be reverted but can increase in capacity over time.

With the gastric sleeve, the stomach is reduced by about 80%, with surgical staples shaping it into a sleeve, making it the definitive method for weight loss.

Maintaining Surgical Effectiveness

Proper dietary planning is needed to ensure that the patient adopts healthy lifestyle habits that do not reverse after surgery. This dietary plan should be guided by a team of specialists to ensure the patient receives the necessary nutrients for optimal health. This way, the treatment's effectiveness for obesity is ensured.

Food anxiety completely disappears. As the stomach size is reduced, the amount of food needed to feel satisfied is less. Additionally, the stomach reduction affects the secretion of ghrelin, the hormone that signals when our body needs nutrients.

Gastric Bypass

One of the main benefits of gastric bypass as a treatment for obesity is the reduction in the risk of comorbidities. Most patients undergoing this procedure have serious weight-related conditions, such as type II diabetes, dyslipidemia, cardiac complications, and hypertension. Patients frequently see significant reductions or complete resolution of these severe conditions as they lose excess weight.

Immediate Intervention and Recovery

Gastric bypass surgery is performed using minimally invasive techniques. Laparoscopic surgery involves very small incisions, lasts less than an hour and a half, and most patients only need a two-night stay for complete recovery. As long as there are no complications, most patients can return to their activities within 7 to 15 days.

Reversible Procedure

Unlike some other types of bariatric surgery, gastric bypass is reversible. Specialists can completely reverse the procedure and choose an alternative method, though options may be limited.

This is indicated when surgery results exceed effectiveness or in cases of difficult-to-control dumping syndrome, which occurs when food, especially carbohydrates, passes too quickly from the stomach to the intestine without going through the duodenum. Hypoglycemia or reflux may occur if the results are unsatisfactory, though these situations are infrequent.

Mini bypass

The Mini Gastric Bypass is a minimally invasive surgical method used to treat obesity. This also means a very rapid recovery process, with minimal pain and satisfactory weight loss results.

The Mini Bypass is a short and relatively simple procedure because the surgical technique does not cause excessive surgical trauma, resulting in fewer complications during and after the intervention.

It is indicated for treating diseases associated with obesity, such as diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension.

However, this surgery is not recommended for patients with hiatal hernias or gastroesophageal reflux.

After the procedure, the benefits of the Mini Gastric Bypass are reflected in:

• A combination of the best aspects of both gastric bypass and gastric sleeve.
• A significant decrease in ghrelin, also known as the hunger hormone.
• Increased intestinal hormones that promote the metabolism of sugars and fats.
• A low incidence rate of regaining weight.