Are Malabsorptive and Restrictive Procedures Right for You?
Patients who have struggled to meet their weight loss goals can undergo bariatric surgery to achieve their target weight, improved aesthetics, and better overall health. The doctors at Tijuana Bariatric Center offer procedures classified as malabsorptive, restrictive, or combined techniques. During a consultation and full evaluation with one of the doctors, will be fully explained. The doctors in Tijuana, Mexico, will provide a full evaluation and then help you decide which option is best for you.
Restrictive Weight Loss Techniques
By decreasing the size of the stomach while leaving the rest of the gastrointestinal tract intact, patients will feel full quicker, reducing the amount of food they can consume. Ultimately, the inability to eat larger portions in a single sitting will result in weight loss. The two most common types of restrictive surgeries are:
Sleeve Gastrectomy: A laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy involves the removal of up to 80 percent of the stomach, including ghrelin cells that produce ghrelin, the hormone that promotes hunger.
LAP-BAND® Surgery: A small part of the stomach is separated from the main part of the stomach using gastric banding to limit the amount of food that enters the stomach. The reversible technique does not require the removal of any part of the stomach. The banding device can be surgically removed at any time.
Each technique offers unique benefits that can dramatically change a patient's lifestyle by improving health, physical appearance, and self-esteem.
Malabsorptive Weight Loss Techniques
By rerouting the intestines so that the upper section of the small intestines is bypassed, fewer nutrients are absorbed, resulting in additional weight loss. Unlike a restrictive technique, malabsorptive weight loss techniques address the issue of calories and nutrient absorption. Two of the common types of malabsorptive weight loss techniques are:
Gastric Bypass Surgery: The most commonly performed bariatric surgery involves the separation of the stomach and the creation of a gastric pouch, along with a rerouting of the intestines.
Duodenal Switch: This technique is a combination of restrictive and malabsorptive practices that uses staples to reduce the size of the stomach and reroute food to a point further down the intestine. The combination of both techniques results in the malabsorption of calories and subsequent weight loss.
Which Bariatric Surgery Option is Best for Me?
Each technique offers unique benefits that can dramatically change a patient's lifestyle by improving health, physical appearance, and self-esteem. During a full evaluation, your doctor will learn more about your desired lifestyle, current habits, and what you would like to achieve through bariatric surgery. Based on your answers and what the doctor finds in the evaluation, recommendations will be presented to you.
Meet With a Doctor
If diet and exercise alone have not helped you lose weight, bariatric surgery including malabsorptive and restrictive weight loss may be a good option for you. To learn more about the different techniques, options, and what you can expect from the procedures, please contact Tijuana Bariatric Center.
