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What Is Bariatric Surgery?

Bariatric surgery works by altering your digestive system’s physical structure in a way that:

  • Restricts food intake by decreasing the size of your stomach and leaving you feeling full after eating much less food
  • Reduces nutrient absorption, so that your body absorbs fewer calories and nutrients
  • Changes appetite signals, so you feel less hungry and have better control over cravings

Bariatric surgery permanently alters your stomach, so this procedure yields long-lasting results. Your weight will not depend on medication or the newest diet. Bariatric surgery is a permanent solution to your struggle with obesity.

Types of Bariatric Surgery

Your Bothell surgeon can help you decide which metabolic surgical options are best for you. Some common procedures include:

  • Gastric bypass surgery involves creating a small stomach pouch and rerouting a portion of the small intestine to limit food intake and nutrient absorption
  • Sleeve gastrectomies remove a large portion of your stomach; this procedure leaves your stomach smaller and sleeve-shaped, reducing hunger and your ability to eat large meals
  • Adjustable gastric banding places a band around the upper part of the stomach to create a smaller stomach pouch, which leaves you feeling full after less food intake

Your surgeon will review each of these procedures with you before your surgery.

How Is Bariatric Surgery Performed?

Your surgeon will perform your bariatric surgery laparoscopically, which means they will make small incisions in different areas of your abdomen and use these incisions to insert a laparoscope (a small camera) and thin instruments to perform the procedure. Laparoscopic surgery makes bariatric surgery minimally invasive and far less risky than more invasive procedures.

The surgeon conducts the procedure under general anesthesia; it takes between one and three hours. You will likely stay in the hospital for one or two days following your surgery so your surgeon can observe you while you adjust to your stomach’s surgical alterations.

Do I Qualify for Bariatric Surgery?

You qualify for obesity surgery in Bothell if you have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher or a BMI of 35 or higher with obesity-related health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease. You can also qualify for bariatric surgery if you have obesity-related health issues such as sleep apnea, hypertension, joint problems, or chronic pain. You will make an ideal candidate if you are prepared to follow the structured diet plan in the initial weeks following the procedure and change how and what you eat in the future.