Bariatric Surgery Evaluation & Advice

Bariatric surgery is a significant intervention aimed at helping individuals with severe obesity achieve substantial and sustainable weight loss.

This procedure can lead to dramatic improvements in health and quality of life. However, it is not suitable for everyone, and careful evaluation is necessary to determine if bariatric surgery is the right option.

Below is an overview of the suitability criteria, recommended BMI, and the various surgical treatment options available.

Suitability for Bariatric Surgery

Body Mass Index (BMI) Criteria

Severe Obesity: Bariatric surgery is typically recommended for individuals with a BMI of 40 or higher.
Moderate Obesity with
Comorbidities: Individuals with a BMI of 35-39.9 who have serious health conditions related to obesity, such as type-2 diabetes, hypertension, or sleep apnoea, may also be candidates for surgery.

Previous Weight Loss Attempts

Surgery is usually considered when other weight loss methods, such as diet, exercise, and medication, have been unsuccessful in achieving significant and sustained weight loss.

Psychological Evaluation

Candidates must undergo a psychological evaluation to ensure they are mentally and emotionally prepared for the lifestyle changes required after surgery. This includes an assessment of eating behaviours, mental health conditions, and understanding of the surgery’s risks and benefits.

Medical Evaluation

A thorough medical evaluation is necessary to assess overall health and identify any potential risks or contraindications for surgery. This includes blood tests, imaging studies, and consultations with specialists if needed.

Surgical Treatment Options

Gastric Bypass (Roux-en-Y)

Procedure: This involves creating a small stomach pouch and rerouting the small intestine to this pouch, bypassing a portion of the stomach and intestines.
Benefits: Significant and rapid weight loss, improvement in obesity-related conditions.
Considerations: Higher complexity, longer recovery time, potential for nutrient deficiencies.

Gastric Sleeve

Procedure: Approximately 75-80% of the stomach is removed, leaving a narrow sleeve-shaped stomach.
Benefits: Significant weight loss, reduced hunger due to lower ghrelin levels.
Considerations: Irreversible, potential for nutrient deficiencies, risk of leakage from the stapled areas, risk of reflux disorder.

Adjustable Gastric Band (Lap-Band)

Procedure: An adjustable band is placed around the upper part of the stomach, creating a small pouch that restricts food intake.
Benefits: Adjustable and reversible, shorter recovery time, lower risk of nutrient deficiencies.
Considerations: Slower and less significant weight loss, requires regular adjustments, risk of band slippage or erosion.

Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch (BPD/DS)

Procedure: Combines a sleeve gastrectomy with intestinal bypass, significantly reducing the stomach size and altering the normal digestion process.
Benefits: Significant and sustained weight loss, effective for severe obesity.
Considerations: Higher risk of complications, nutrient deficiencies, more complex surgery and recovery.

Post-Surgery Considerations

Lifestyle Changes

Adopting a healthy diet and engaging in regular physical activity are crucial for maintaining weight loss after surgery.
Behavioural changes and adherence to dietary guidelines are necessary to avoid complications and optimise results.

Nutritional Support

Regular follow-ups with a dietitian or nutritionist are essential to monitor nutritional intake and prevent deficiencies.
Lifelong vitamin and mineral supplementation may be required, especially for procedures that involve malabsorption.

Psychological Support

Ongoing psychological support can help address emotional eating, body image issues, and the mental adjustments needed after surgery.

Bariatric surgery can be a life-changing option for individuals struggling with severe obesity, but it requires careful evaluation and a commitment to long-term lifestyle changes.

Our team at Olika are experts in working with patients who may be considering weight loss surgery. We are the non-invasive first stop for patients, where we can try and implement our medical weight loss solutions prior to taking the significant leap toward surgery.

We also work with a number of leading obesity surgeons in Canberra and can recommend surgeons based on our experience, if required.

Begin your wellness journey with Olika and achieve a healthier, happier you.

Achieving weight loss success requires a balanced approach and consistent lifestyle changes, often accompanied by periods of medical therapy. We are here to guide you on your journey to a healthier you.

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