Stomach Surgery

Stomach surgery has become an assumed quick fix to the obesity problems of the world. With over 60% of Americans being clinically obese and a high percentage of those being morbidly obese, stomach surgery is gaining both in medical advances and in popularity among the masses. Stomach surgery can reduce the size of the stomach by nearly 90%, causing a rapid weight loss of the individual.

Stomach surgery is known under many different names with the most common being gastric bypass surgery. In this stomach surgery, the surgeon staples a portion of the stomach together, creating a much smaller pouch for food storage. This allows for the body to feel full on less food, limiting the overall food and caloric intake of the patient. A Y-shaped section of the small intestine is then rerouted into the pouch, starting digestion at a lower point on the small intestine than prior to the surgery, resulting in faster digestion with less caloric absorption. Such a surgery has a rapid rate of recovery with minimal invasiveness.

The lap band stomach surgery invented by Dr. Auturo Rodriguez in 1981 has been expanded upon and improved over the years. Instead of any real cutting, a band is wrapped around a section of the stomach to restrict its size. This less invasive procedure is becoming more widely used as many seek stomach surgery as their last hope for weightloss.

Not only does stomach surgery change the way the patient's digestive system internally but it also forces a change in the person's eating habits. Many who have undergone the surgery report having a smaller appetite and find food less appealing. They are also less likely to be able to tolerate greasy foods such as french fries and must stick to milder, healthier foods. In addition, stomach surgery forces the patient to eat more slowly, taking smaller bites and eating smaller quantities of foods than before, making them more conscious of what they are consuming as well as allowing them to feel full on much less food volume.

Though stomach surgery is a promising answer to weightloss, it is not effective in the absence of other lifestyle changes. High-caloric snacks should still be avoided, and the patient must also exercise to maintain weight. Some instances of stomach stretching have occurred after stomach surgery as the person attempts to return to his or her previous diet and food intake. Stomach surgery may change the body, but it is up to the individual to change his or her lifestyle.

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