If you’re someone who suffers from obesity or a weight-related illness due to which you can’t lose weight no matter how much you try or what methods you use, then a mini gastric bypass surgery might be the ideal solution for you.
While the results of a mini gastric bypass and a simple gastric bypass may be similar, the mini gastric bypass is a slightly easier and safer alternative to the more traditional gastric bypass.
It is a widely accepted and effective treatment for morbid obesity and many metabolic disorders. So, if you’re considering a mini gastric bypass surgery, here are some things you should know.
What is a Mini Gastric Bypass?
A mini gastric bypass, also commonly known as single loop gastric bypass or single anastomosis gastric bypass (SAGB), is a relatively new but very effective surgical procedure. It involves the reduction of your stomach size and a bypassing of the small intestine to limit food absorption.
The gastric bypass was traditionally carried with the help of a Roux-Y Procedure, in which the stomach and small intestine are rejoined in two places. But since the introduction of the mini gastric bypass, the process has been significantly simplified. It has also minimized many complications affiliated with the procedure and has greatly reduced the operating time.
Who is Qualified to Get a Mini Gastric Bypass?
You are suitable for a mini gastric bypass if your body mass index (BMI) is greater than 40, or if it’s a case of weight-related illness, then greater than 35 and if you’ve tried other weight loss methods such as dieting and exercise but don’t get long-term success. However, there may be special circumstances where people with lower BMI can be qualified for one.
What is the Procedure?
The SAGB procedure typically takes somewhere around 1-2 hours, performed with the laparoscopic technique while the patient is under anesthesia. The procedure involves making several tiny cuts into the patient’s abdomen through which some surgical tools, including a camera, are lodged inside.
After that, the stomach is stapled at the top to form a thin duct, which becomes the patient’s new, smaller stomach, and it is set completely separate from the rest of the stomach. The new stomach is then joined to the center of the small intestine. The unused part of the stomach and small intestine remain in the body but are no longer involved in its digestion process.
Advantages
- The procedure is especially effective for patients with a larger BMI since it has more reliable weight loss results than other similar techniques.
- It increases the intestinal production of GLP1, which stimulates insulin release in the body and is a potent cure for diabetes.
- The hormonal changes that occur due to the surgery result in an almost immediate reduction of the need for diabetic medication for the patient.
- SAGB also does not require any alterations or ongoing adjustments associated with other procedures like the gastric band.
- Weight loss surgery has been shown to improve patients’ mental health on top of the physical health benefits. Some benefits for obese patients include preventing strokes, improved joint health, reduced effects of type-2 diabetes, and improved fertility.
