Duodenal Switch Surgery - Is It Beneficial For You?

Getting surgery for weight loss may seem to be an easy way out, but this is no miracle cure. Bariatric surgery is of many types and to benefit from this, it is important for you to make the right choice. Some types of bariatric surgery merely restrict the amount of food that can be consumed in one sitting while others reduce the amount of fats that can be absorbed from the food as well. Duodenal switch surgery is one of the latter techniques.

For this surgery, a part of the stomach is removed. This restricts the amount of food that can be consumed. The remaining part of the stomach is fashioned into a tube. This preserves the natural inlet and outlet for food and allows the patient to have a more normal diet as compared to other bariatric surgeries such as a gastric sleeve surgery. Thus, if you do not want to be restricted to a special diet, this may be the better choice of bariatric procedures for you. Removing part of the stomach also reduces the amount of hormones such as ghrelin being produced. This hormone is responsible for stimulating the appetite.

The small intestines are then addressed and separated into two channels which merge later as one. Food flows through the shorter channel. Bile and pancreatic juices flow through the longer channel. The two channels merge shortly before food passes into the large intestines. The aim of doing this is to reduce the amount of time your food spends in the small intestines. As a result of this, lesser fat is absorbed by the body. In most cases, the amount of fat absorbed by the small intestines after this procedure is reduced to 20%. This part of the procedure is reversible. What this implies is that once the patient has lost sufficient weight, the small intestines may be brought back to their original state thus allowing nutrients to be properly absorbed once again.

If you do decide to undergo this procedure, you must first fulfill certain conditions. Bariatric surgery is usually considered a last resort when other forms of weight loss have not had significant results. However, you should have lost a certain amount of weight by dieting and exercising prior to the surgery. This is necessary as this surgery will not be effective unless the person has self-control and a will to lose weight. Thus, this is seen as a commitment towards a healthier lifestyle.