Sleeve gastrectomy is the most risk-free type of surgery in obesity surgery with 10-year results. The important thing is which team performed the surgery and which patient.
There are many positive as well as negative news about obesity surgeries in the press. So, how is it decided what kind of surgery will be applied to which patient, is tube stomach surgery a risky method as claimed?
How many types of surgery are there to solve the obesity problem?
The most common obesity surgery in the world is the ‘sleeve gastrectomy’ surgery known as sleeve gastrectomy. Like most of the world centres, we prefer tube stomach surgery in patients who have not had any obesity surgery before.
Bypass methods, in which the small intestines are also involved, are still very important initiatives in some special cases. The ‘duodenal-switch’ intervention in super obese patients with a body mass index above 60, and stomach-by-pass for those who regain weight after the tube stomach are the operations we are currently applying.
The duodenal switch method can be the first choice in patients with advanced obesity, where Type 2 sugar is very prominent and using insulin. Because this initiative has a more direct effect on diabetes.
Permanent Method That Saves Lives
Can you evaluate the types of surgery performed in obesity surgery with their pros and cons? In fact, there is a range of options that vary according to the patient’s BMI, sugar, age and number of surgery. Our task is to perform the most appropriate surgery for that patient with the most perfect technique.
In the whole world; Gastric sleeve surgery is the first option for more than %90 of those who will have obesity surgery for the first time. By-pass methods, on the other hand, are more difficult, more risky but still life-saving methods that are still valid especially in second surgeries.
How do you decide which type of surgery to perform on a patient who comes to you with an overweight problem and by looking at which criteria?
The decision of which patient and which surgery will be performed is entirely related to a series of characteristics belonging to the patient and partly to the experience of the surgical team. While the vast majority of patients prefer sleeve gastrectomy first, rarely the first surgery option is a ‘by-pass‘ attempt. For some overweight patients, we may wish to lose a little weight with balloon application or special and short-term diets before surgery.
Often times, even the first conversation and examination we have with our patient in our office can affect our decision on the choice of surgery. “Does the patient have diabetes and is in an advanced stage?”, “How many years and in what dosage has he been using insulin?” The type of surgery is selected together with the patient, considering some factors such as.
It is of great importance to have both a psychologist and a dietician in your body, even at the decision stage.
10 Year Results
In the press, we come across some negative news about those who had tube stomach surgery. Are the negativities experienced after tube stomach surgery caused by the patient, the physician, or the wrong patient selection?
Gastric sleeve surgery is less than one in a thousand, that is, it is an attempt with a very reasonable risk. Even the most risk-free obesity surgery and long-term results of at least 10 years are available. All the negativity in the press is unfortunately unfortunate.
There is a false perception that an aesthetic purpose has resulted in death. On the contrary, sleeve gastrectomy is the safest and risk-free surgery for obesity. On the other hand, obesity surgery is of course the interventions that should be done by special and competent teams who are dedicated to this issue.
Of course, the negativities due to competent and inexperienced teams or physicians can attract attention, but these bad examples should not disturb the morale of morbid obese people who have no cure.
Obesity surgery; should be considered as a whole. In the case of correct patient selection, detailed preoperative preparation, excellent technique, close postoperative follow-up and long-term support to patients with dieticians and psychologists, side effects and negativities are rarely observed.
There is a public discourse about those who underwent sleeve gastrectomy that they started to regain the weight they lost about three years later; is this true.
The answer to this question is both yes and no. First of all, there is no such thing as ‘No surgery cures morbid obesity 100% and you are not able to gain weight again’! Even if it is possible to become morbidly obese again after all surgeries, it is possible. If we open the subject a little bit; after tube stomach surgery, the weight problem is %60-70 likely to end throughout life. %20-30 of patients gains weight again three to four years after surgery, albeit a little.
A group close to % 4 can become morbidly obese again in the long term. For this reason, the number of patients who have a second and even third surgery in obesity surgery is gradually increasing.
Is aesthetic surgery necessary for skin sagging after bariatric surgery?
It is not necessary in any way. However, if desired, plastic surgeons can help with certain procedures. However, these are not essential for health and are only attempts for aesthetic purposes.
Comfortable and happy weight
Is it difficult and painful during and after the operation? Are there any restrictions for the patient?
Pain is never a problem as there are no incisions and operations are performed through millimetres holes. The best part is; People lose weight by dieting comfortably and happily.
Because the appetite is clearly curbed. In other words, new methods make you lose weight by dieting comfortably and happily, not by craving and not being able to eat. The amount of weight loss gradually decreases and stops at the end of a maximum of 1.5 years.