Losing weight is a top priority for a growing number of people in the United States and around the world. However, with increasing fast food chains, constant junk food advertising and busy schedules, it is often more difficult to avoid unhealthy eating than it may seem. That is why many people choose one of the many weight loss surgery options. Although patients must change their eating habits before, during and after surgery, the procedure can help get many people on a healthy path toward achieving a healthy body weight.
Gastric Bypass or Gastric Sleeve?
When it comes to making the decision between gastric bypass surgery and gastric sleeve surgery, there are a number of factors to consider. Your doctor will likely make recommendations based on your specific needs, weight loss goals and current overall health. Average Weight Loss Setting realistic weight loss goals is an essential component to keeping the weight off once it is gone. Although weight loss surgery can help you lose a significant amount of weight quickly, your lifestyle will greatly affect your long-term weight loss. The following is an estimation of averages for what you can expect after undergoing weight loss surgery. Keep in mind that living a healthy lifestyle with plenty of exercise and good eating habits can increase your weight loss potential over and above these averages. However, if you do not tailor your lifestyle to include healthy eating and exercise, you may quickly gain the weight back. First Year Expectations Within the first year after gastric bypass surgery, you can expect to lose between 60 and 80 percent of your excess body weight. Gastric sleeve surgery weight loss averages tend to occur over a longer period and often enable patients to lose between 50 and 70 percent of their excess body weight over the course of the first two years post-surgery. Benefits of Gastric Bypass Although many weight loss professionals have their own opinion on which surgical procedures come with the most benefits, gastric bypass surgery is known as the “Gold Standard” among weight loss doctors. …show more content…
Having been around for a significant period, gastric bypass surgery has been studied extensively in an effort to prove its benefits.
The procedure requires that the intestines be bypassed, which means that your body has less time to absorb calories, thus reducing overall calorie consumption. However, it is important that patients understand the increased possibilities of complications and risks of undergoing gastric bypass surgery.
Benefits of Gastric Sleeve
One of the greatest benefits associated with gastric sleeve surgery is that you may experience an increased reduction in hunger after the procedure as well as a reduced need to take vitamins post-surgery.
During gastric sleeve surgery, the surgeon typically removes the majority of the left side of your stomach. Since this area is believed to house the hunger hormone ghrelin, Not only does this often result in decreased hunger, but also many patients actually forget to eat for about the first six months after surgery, unless they have a reminder in place.
Possible Risks of Weight Loss Surgery While both gastric bypass and gastric sleeve procedures have a less than one percent mortality rate, each comes with their own unique set of risks. Complications can occur immediately after surgery or several months