How can you choose which kind of weight loss surgery is best for you?

You’ve followed every diet recommendation and worked out nonstop, but the weight just won’t come off. Bariatric surgery may be the answer if you’re one of the one-third of Indians who are considered obese.

Gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy are the two most popular weight loss techniques.

According to bariatric surgeon Sapan Jain, MD, “for an average patient with severe obesity, both treatments are good solutions as they are very similar.” However, there are some factors that could tip the scales in one direction over the other.

How do you choose the best weight loss procedure for you? The choices are broken down by Dr. Sapan Jain down the options.

Options for bariatric surgery:

You are eligible for bariatric surgery if your body mass index (BMI) is:

• 40 or higher.
• Between 35 and 40, and you have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol,        fatty liver disease, or sleep apnea.
• Between 30 and 35, and you have uncontrolled diabetes.

However, choosing the best method necessitates consultation between you and your bariatric surgeon. We take into account the patient’s expectations, conditions, and history. After that, we develop a strategy together,” explains Dr. Sapan Jain. 

Almost all bariatric surgical treatments are now carried out by doctors using minimally invasive methods. Smaller incisions (typically five or six in the abdomen) and quicker healing are the results of this. The majority of patients heal in two to three weeks and return home the day after surgery.

1. Gastric bypass surgery:

Your stomach will shrink after having gastric bypass surgery, and your body will absorb fewer calories and fats as a result.

“We create a tiny pouch where the stomach is disconnected on top. The GI (gastrointestinal) system is then rerouted by bringing a loop of the small intestine up and connecting it to that pouch, according to Dr. Sapan Jain. “Food consumed by the patient travels straight to the small intestine. 90% to 95% of the stomach is bypassed.

Its Benefits:

“Gastric bypass is a more powerful tool than sleeve gastrectomy. Patients usually lose 10 to 20 pounds more with it. Rerouting the GI tract leads to some favorable hormonal changes, so the chance for diabetes improvement is higher as well.”

Who it’s good for:

• People with severe reflux disease: Acid reflux often improves after gastric bypass surgery.
• People with high BMIs: People lose more weight with gastric bypass.
• People with diabetes: While gastric bypass is generally better for these patients, Dr. Aminian notes: “In patients with severe diabetes, it doesn’t matter whether we do a bypass or a sleeve. Both procedures are similarly effective.”
• Sleeve gastrectomy surgery:

A sleeve gastrectomy operation only affects the stomach and is also referred to as the gastric sleeve. About 80–85% of it is surgically removed, leaving a smaller “sleeve” in its stead.

Its Benefits:

Dr. Sapan Jain says the sleeve is a bit safer than gastric bypass: The risk of all complications is 3% after the sleeve vs. 5% with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

Who it’s good for:

• People who have had multiple abdominal surgeries: “Rerouting the GI tract and operating on the small intestine would be impossible when there is severe scar tissue around it,” notes Dr. Sapan Jain. “In a sleeve gastrectomy, we only operate on the upper part of the abdomen, which is usually less affected by the scar tissues.”
• High-risk surgical patients: Sleeve gastrectomy is easier on patients than gastric bypass: The anesthesia time is shorter, and the recovery is faster. High-risk patients include people with severe heart disease or lung problems, plus transplant candidates or recipients.
• People who weigh more than 450 to 500 pounds: Too much fat can limit the amount of space inside the abdomen. Surgeons need room to reroute the GI tract. “Without space, gastric bypass isn’t possible.”
• People on multiple medications to treat the psychiatric illness: Gastric bypass can affect how your body absorbs — and responds to — medications. “If a patient with severe depression or anxiety is stable on multiple psych medications, we don’t want to give them a procedure that may alter their medication’s absorption and effectiveness.”
• Allurion Ballon:

The Allurion Balloon is a weight-loss balloon provided as a swallowable pill, which is turned into a gastric balloon in your stomach by a healthcare professional. It is the only gastric balloon that doesn’t require endoscopy* or anesthesia for its placement and removal. The total procedure takes less than 20 minutes!

Its Benefits:

It helps in weight loss by 10–15%. No need for anesthesia or endoscopy. Program sponsored by dietitians. After a little meal, feeling full helps with portion control. support for changing your food and way of life to permanently lose weight. For people with a BMI of 27 and higher.

Who it’s good for:

• People on multiple medications to treat the psychiatric illness: Gastric bypass can affect how your body absorbs — and responds to — medications. “If a patient with severe depression or anxiety is stable on multiple psych medications, we don’t want to give them a procedure that may alter their medication’s absorption and effectiveness.”
• People who have had multiple abdominal surgeries
• People with severe reflux disease: Acid reflux often improves after Allurion Ballon Surgery.
• People with high BMIs: People lose more weight with Allurion Ballon.
• People with diabetes: While the Allurion Ballon process is generally better for these patients, Dr. Sapan Jain notes: “In patients with severe diabetes, it doesn’t matter whether we do a bypass, a sleeve or alluring process. Bypass and Sleeve Both procedures are similarly effective but alluring process quite different.