Gastric Bypass or Gastric Sleeve, which bariatric surgery is best for me?
Once you have decided to undergo a bariatric procedure to lose weight and improve your quality of life, it is time to choose the ideal surgery for you. Before selecting an option, you must have enough information about the different types of bariatric surgery.
Currently, Gastric Sleeve and Gastric Bypass are the two most popular weight-loss surgeries. The final selection will be depending on your general health condition and the amount of weight you want to lose. Of course, a bariatric surgeon has to help you in this crucial process.
Each kind of bariatric surgery has particular implications and characteristics. They don’t apply to everyone.
Among all the bariatric options, and unlike other laparoscopic procedures, both Gastric Sleeve and Gastric Bypass are procedures that have many features in common. Both are permanent, reduce the feeling of hunger, and produce a significant weight loss.
In a Gastric Sleeve surgery, 60% to 80% of your stomach is removed. This portion of your stomach contains the Ghrelin, also known as the “appetite hormone.” The remaining part of the stomach forms a tube or “sleeve” that limits the portions of food that you can consume, and thus, weight loss occurs.
On the other hand, a small part of the stomach is cut in the Gastric Bypass to connect it directly to your small intestine. This method uses restriction and malabsorption. It limits much more the portions of food that you can consume and the nutrients that you can absorb to promote more significant weight loss.
How much weight will you lose?
A central point of any bariatric procedure is to know how much weight you can lose after undergoing surgery.
However, you should know that long-term weight loss depends more on the lifestyle you adopt and not exclusively on the surgery you choose.
The critical point is the regular practice of physical exercise and having healthy eating habits. This way, you will lose weight faster, and at the same time, you will be changing your life to increase its quality.
People who choose Gastric Bypass lose between 60% and 80% of their extra weight. While with a Gastric Sleeve surgery, the loss ranges are between 50% and 70% of excess body weight in two years.
What comes after bariatric surgery?
After a bypass or gastric sleeve surgery, you need to be especially careful about what you eat, avoiding certain foods, and ensuring a healthy balance.
General differences and similarities between both procedures
Gastric Sleeve Surgery
- It is done in about 35 to 40 minutes.
- It is indicated for people with 75% overweight or more.
- A part of the stomach is removed.
- This surgery is highly recommended for patients with type diabetes 2.
- Special bariatric formula multivitamins are needed.
Gastric Bypass Surgery
- It is done in about 70 to 90 minutes.
- It is indicated for people with 85% overweight or more.
- A part of the stomach is removed to connect it directly to your small intestine.
- This surgery is highly recommended for patients with type diabetes 2.
- Yes, special bariatric formula multivitamins are needed too.
