Liposuction and Gastric Bypasses Explained

With more and more information being publicized about the health risks associated with the overweight / obesity "epidemic" in America today, people are taking drastic steps to try to shed weight quickly. Two more popular procedures that are being done to help people get rid of excess weight quickly are liposuction and gastric bypass surgeries. Because both of these procedures are considered major surgeries, they should only be used as a last resort, after all other diet and exercise options have been exhausted. It is also important for potential liposuction or gastric bypass candidates to recognize that they'll still need to follow a healthy eating plan and a moderate exercise program for the rest of their lives for these operations to be successful. Liposuction is actually considered a cosmetic procedure, and it's the more mild surgical approach to weight loss when compared with gastric bypass surgery. Liposuction is the removal of fat deposits from under the skin through the use of a hollow stainless steel tube and strong vacuum suction. Liposuction can be performed on almost any area of the body. Some more common liposuction procedures target the abdomen, buttocks, thighs and lower back. Complications that can arise from a liposuction procedure include bad reactions to anesthesia, infection, skin discoloration, mild to severe scarring, nerve damage, blood clots and excessive bruising to name a few. As with any surgery, complications can result in serious injury or even death. Therefore, it's extremely important that liposuction candidates do extensive research prior to selecting a doctor and receiving surgery.
Gastric bypass surgery is a medical procedure that is considered for patients who have a body mass index of 40 or higher and / or have a disabling or life threatening disorder related to their weight. It's a much more severe approach to weight loss than liposuction. Gastric bypass surgery is a last resort for medical professionals to help obese patients improve their health. During the gastric bypass procedure, the size of the stomach is reduced and the small intestine is shortened. This is done by creating a small pouch at the top of the stomach and then connecting it directly to the middle of the small intestine. The stomach pouch restricts the amount of food that can be eaten before feeling full, and the shortening of the small intestine reduces the number of calories that are absorbed into the body. Gastric bypass surgery is major surgery that requires up to a week hospital stay and may result in complications that can be as mild as nausea or as severe as death. With both liposuction and gastric bypass surgery, patients see weight loss results very quickly. However, these procedures are not the ultimate fix to a weight problem. Liposuction is a superficial approach to weight loss that addresses physical appearance without addressing poor habits that lead excess body fat in the first place. Gastric bypass surgery addresses both physical appearance and poor habits; however, if immediate lifestyle changes are not made following gastric bypass surgery, there is potential for severe complications. In the end, if you choose to have a liposuction procedure or if you're advised to undergo gastric bypass surgery, you will still have to make lifestyle changes that include healthy eating and regular exercise.