Being overweight can have devastating effects on your mental health as well as physical health and it can put limits on the life you want to lead. Not all candidates are suitable for stomach bypass surgery and careful consideration needs to be given to patients who want to undergo the operation. The weight loss procedure can result in a dramatic change in your appearance and give you a new lease on life.
Stomach bypass surgery is major weight loss surgery. The gastric bypass operation is usually done under general anaesthesia. Operations are performed via keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery where possible. A telescopic camera is fed through the incision and the surgeon performs the operation guided by the camera. The less invasive surgery results in reduced pain for the patient, a quicker recovery time and less scarring.
Using surgical staples your surgeon will make a pouch at the top of your stomach, separating it from the lower part of your stomach. A new opening from this pouch is made which is connected to a section of your small intestine ‘bypassing’ the rest of the stomach and the upper portion of the small intestine. Your hospital stay will be up to a week and most people can return to their normal activities in 3 to 5 weeks.
As above, the stomach bypass surgery works by making the stomach smaller and allowing food to ‘bypass’ part of the small intestine. You will consume less food by feeling fuller quicker and thus lose weight. Strict dietary guidelines must follow a gastric bypass. Food is eaten in smaller amounts and certain foods/fluids are restricted. If the patient tries to consume food too quickly, this can lead to nausea, dizziness and weakness.
People who have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 for at least five years or more or have a BMI of 35 and over and who are at a high risk to develop life threatening health problems are good candidates for stomach bypass surgery. As well as being mentally prepared for surgery, you need to make a firm commitment to change your diet, behavioural habits and engage in regular exercise – this will give you the best results.
Being morbidly obese can not only limit your life physically and affect your health, it can have a detrimental impact on your mental psyche – limited social acceptance can result in self-loathing and despair. Significant weight loss can add years to your life and result in an increased self esteem and self worth – most importantly, you will learn to like yourself again and look at yourself with a new found respect.
If you are morbidly obese and you have not been able to control your weight through traditional means, stomach bypass surgery can change your life dramatically and allow you to reach your potential without restriction. We take a holistic approach to losing weight and have experienced surgeons, dieticians, physicians and psychologists who collaborate together to help patients achieve their long-term weight loss goals through stomach bypass surgery. Contact us today.
Dr Ken Wong also operates in Newcastle and Sydney.
