A bariatric surgeon answers questions about common procedures and their effectiveness.
For many, weight loss is not just a means to fit into a favorite pair of jeans. For the nearly one-quarter of New Jersey residents who are obese, it’s a matter of life and death. Obesity increases the risk of developing serious medical conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obstructive sleep apnea and cancer. To help improve patients’ health and quality of life, Monmouth Medical Center created the Weight Loss Surgery Center, which offers a multidisciplinary approach to weight loss. Gurdeep S. Matharoo, MD, FACS, FASMBS, a board-certified bariatric surgeon at the Center, explains what patients can expect.
What types of bariatric surgery does your team perform?
We perform two types of bariatric surgery in patients who have never had such a procedure: sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass. With a sleeve gastrectomy, about 80 percent of the stomach is removed, leaving a small “sleeve” shaped liked a banana. This surgery helps patients feel full after eating small amounts of food and causes gut hormone levels to drop so they ’re not as hungry. With gastric bypass, the stomach is divided into two sections. The top part becomes a small pouch the size of a golf ball—limiting the amount of food that can be eaten—and is connected to the middle of the small intestine. The remaining parts of the stomach and intestinal tract don’t absorb food.
Like the sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass leads to hormonal changes that augment weight loss. We also have extensive experience in revisional bariatric surgery, in which a patient who has previously undergone surgery is converted to a different type of procedure.
How effective is bariatric surgery?
Patients who undergo sleeve gastrectomy lose 60 to 75 per cent of their excess body weight, on average, over the course of 18 to 24 months. Gastric bypass patients typically lose a bit more—usually 70 to 80 percent of their excess body weight.
What can patients expect following bariatric surgery?
In addition to weight loss, patients experience better health. Most of our patients who have type 2 diabetes no longer need medication after surgery. Blood pressure and cholesterol levels are reduced, lowering heart disease risk. The weight loss also reduces cancer risk and improves conditions like sleep apnea and joint pain.
How safe is bariatric surgery?
There’s a misconception that bariatric surgery is dangerous, but the overall risk complications is very low.
Who are the best candidates for bariatric surgery?
To qualify for these procedures, a patient must have a body mass index (BMI, a weight-height ratio) of 40 or greater or a BMI of 35 to 39 plus one or more other conditions occurring at the same time, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
Learn more about bariatric surgery at Monmouth Medical Center or call: 732.923.6070.