Laparoscopic weight loss surgery aims at reducing the weight of the patient by modifying the anatomy of the digestive system. People who are morbidly obese i.e. people who are weighing 100 pounds more than their ideal weight, for them exercising and dieting does not helps in reducing weight. Morbidly obese people experiences severe health problems such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes. In order to lose weight, laparoscopic surgery is the only option left for them because this surgery is less complicated. This article focuses on how laparoscopic surgery helps in weight loss.
Laparoscopic Surgery for Weight Loss
- In this surgery, the size of the stomach becomes smaller, so that the patient feels satiated and full after eating less amount of food. The body also absorbs less amount of calories, thus resulting in weight loss.
- As the food enters the stomach from esophagus, gastric juices secreted by the stomach are mixed with the food. The food passes into the small intestine. Two main sections of the small intestine are duodenum and jejunum.
- In small intestine, fats are broken down and nutrient get absorbed into it.
- The surgery lasts for four hours. Anaesthesia is given to the patient before the surgery begins.
- 3-6 incisions are made in the belly. Each incisions is not more than one inch.
- A laparoscope is then inserted through one of the incision. Then the camera gets connected to the monitor, enabling the surgeon to view the internal structure of the stomach.
- As carbon dioxide fills in the stomach which helps the surgeon to get a better view of the internal structure.
- Instruments that are passed through the remaining incisions are thin in nature.
- Upper part of the stomach is stapled and remaining portion is isolated.
- The stapled part is then directly connected to the second part of lower intestine i.e. jejunum.
After the Laparoscopic Surgery
- The patient is hospitalised for at least 3 days after the surgery.
- The patient is not allowed to eat anything during this period because the stitches made in the stomach need to be healed.
- After the surgery, the patient has to follow strict a diet which starts with liquid and then gradually to regular food.
However, after laparoscopic surgery for weight loss, the patient loses 80% of the extra weight gained earlier. Health problems due to obesity are reduced after the laparoscopic surgery.
