BARIATRIC SURGERY
Q: I can’t seem to lose weight. Do you think bariatric surgery could be the answer?
A: Bariatric surgery is to help you lose weight. Usually, you need to be significantly overweight and have tried everything else to lose weight. There are three types of surgery. A gastric sleeve surgery is done through small incisions in the belly, and the surgeon removes more than half of your stomach. This leaves a thin sleeve about the size of a banana. The second is called a Roux-en-Y surgery that changes the connection between the stomach and intestine. It bypasses a portion of the small intestine. The last one is a gastric banding surgery. This is also done through small incisions. The doctor wraps a band around the upper part of the stomach, creating a small pouch. The decreased size of the pouch means that you get full, easier. You can get the band inflated or deflated to adjust the size, depending on how you are doing. After surgery, you won’t be able to eat much. You will get full, quickly and it could cause you to vomit. Though it has some problems, bariatric surgery is a tool that can help you get healthier.
Dr. Rick Casey
Questions can be submitted directly to the providers, called in to Mercy Clinic at 417/876-5851 or submitted through their new App mymercy.net.
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