Is Gastric Bypass Surgery Worth The Costs And Medical Risks?

Gastric bypass surgery has been gaining popularity in the amount of patients seeking this alternative for weight loss

. Since obesity is at an all time high in the United States, consumers are seeking any option available to them, even if its surgery. There are three different types of bariatric procedures performed.

The first one is call Lap-Band surgery. At the top part of the stomach, a modifiable silicone ring is attached creating a 1-2 ounce pouch. This small pouch generates the feeling of fullness in the stomach and reasonably restricts your food intake. This is the only surgery that is adjustable. This procedure is almost never covered by insurance companies and the average cost is about $15,000-$20,000. The surgery takes about one hour to complete with a day stay in the hospital and one week off of work. Every bariatric patient must adhere to a diet of 800 calories per day for the first 18-36 months and you are not allowed to drink with your meals. This particular procedure is best for a person who does take an active part in an exercise program. The side effects include slow weight loss, infection, slippage of the ring, and device malfunction.

The next surgery is called the vertical sleeve gastrectomy. Approximately 85% of the stomach is removed only leaving a small sleeve like pouch. This surgery severely restricts your food intake and hunger pangs. The patient is restricted to a 600-800 calorie per day intake for the first 24 months and then 1000-1200 calorie diet for life. This method has the highest occurrence for weight gain. The side effects include nausea, vomiting, inadequate weight loss, heartburn and weight regain. The average cost is about $25,000 with a 1-2 day hospital stay and a 1-2 week recovery time without work. Some insurance companies will approve this procedure with certain patients.

The most successful surgery for people who likes sugar and is extremely obese is called Roux-en-Y. There are 2 parts to this procedure. The surgeon makes a 1 ounce pouch and cuts a small hole called a stoma between the stomach and intestine. The food only passes down the roux limb and makes the patient feel full for a greater period of time because the stoma delays the stomach from emptying. The diet is 800 calories per day for the first 12-18 and then 1000-1200 for life with the avoidance of sugar. The side effects consist of ulcers, dumping syndrome, bowel obstruction, anemia, stricture and vitamin B12 deficiency. The hospital stay is 2-3 days with a 2-3 week recovery period. Most insurance companies will authorize this type of bariatric surgery.

Over 208,000 consumers opted for bariatric surgery in 2008 and the numbers continue to rise. Physicians are calling obesity a disease so the patients feel as they have no alternative but surgery to fix their "disease". Could the disease be inactivity? Overeating? Why wasn't this "disease" present years ago? Consumers love to feel like they have no control over their situation and therefore no blame nor responsibility can lie with them. At least there is some good news with these types of surgeries. The morbidity rate is only about .2 percent. So as long as you're not the 2 out of the 1000 which die during the procedure your odds are pretty good you will lose some weight. Keeping the weight off is the real test in post surgical patients.

by: Shawni Groezinger

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