The Surgery Required To Reduce Stomach Size
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The Surgery Required To Reduce Stomach Size
Andrew Long writes medical related articles for publications and his own series of websites. This article may be used on other sites but the full resource box must be added. Go to http://www.stomachreductionsurgery.net for more information.
Stomach reduction surgery is not something to be undertaken lightly. The surgery permanently alters the way your body digests food and therefore requires a radical lifestyle change. It is also a major surgery that is undergone by patients in less than optimal general health, so it can be a risky procedure.
Long before undergoing surgery, you must pass through the qualification process. You must be deemed physically and psychologically fit enough to withstand the surgery and adapt to your new lifestyle. This means a medical team that includes a doctor surgeon, dietician and a psychologist will evaluate you. Not everyone who is overweight will be a good candidate for stomach reduction surgery.
Some serious health conditions, like heart disease, may disqualify you. You may also be denied if you are not thought to be psychologically ready due to food addictions or other reasons. Once the medical team has determined you are a good candidate for stomach reduction surgery, they will seek approval from your insurance company or help you arrange other financing.
While waiting for the day of your surgery to arrive, your doctors will ask you to become as healthy as possible in preparation. This includes following a special diet, getting physical exercise to the best of your ability, and stopping smoking.
The stomach reduction surgery itself requires a hospital stay. It is performed under general anesthesia and requires about four hours to complete. Your surgeon seals off the top of your stomach so it is only able to hold about an ounce of food. He then connects your small intestine to this newly created small pouch.
This surgery closes off the lower, larger part of your stomach. As a result, you will only be able to consume small quantities of food and it will pass through your digestive tract much quicker. Even though the lower part of your stomach is sealed off from accepting food, it is left in place and is still functional and passes digestive juices into your intestines.
When the operation is completed, you will recover in the hospital for three to five days. For the first couple of days, you will have a tube in your nose to drain acid from your stomach so the incision can heal. You will not be allowed to eat during this time. You will begin your new diet with liquids only and work up to soft foods and then regular foods over a period of twelve weeks.
There will be an adjustment time of about six months after your stomach reduction surgery in which you must learn how to eat without causing pain or vomiting. Your dietician will supply you with a diet that you must follow in order to ensure you get proper nutrition and to prevent complications.
People who undergo stomach reduction surgery typically lose 50 percent of their excess weight within two years of the procedure. To have the best results and to maintain weight loss, you must eat a proper diet and get regular exercise.
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