Advantages: Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery

As developments in technology in medicine continues to make headway, so too does improvements in bariatric surgery.  Today, bariatric procedures – a complex procedure in it’s own right – can be preformed with minimal invasion, offering a speedy recovery displaying long term benefits.

Laparoscopic bariatric surgery has become one of the most recognized and renowned bariatric procedures available to people who suffer from morbid obesity.

Laproscopic bariatric surgery is sometimes more commonly called ”videoscopic bariatric surgery” because (as it’s name suggests) the procedure involves a small camera that is inserted into the patient chest or stomach – a technique that allows bariatric surgeons to perform the operation with minimal invasion.

An open bariatric procedure” is also available to patients. This ”open” procedure is more intrusive and often includes dissection, a task that is much more invasive than the laparoscopic technique. Instead of one long surgical incision, several tiny incisions are made in the abdomen. The surgeon views the procedure on a separate camera monitor. Many surgeons believe the laparoscopic approach gives them better access to the abdominal structures and a better view as well. The internal procedure and the end results of open or laparoscopic surgery are the same (loss of excess weight) – only the method of opening the abdomen is different.

Typically, laparoscopic surgery involves making five 1/2- inch incisions and performing the operation by observation through a small camera. The entire operation is performed "inside" the abdomen after gas has been inserted to expand the abdomen. Because the laparoscopic approach is performed in a similar manner to the open approach, the long term results should be similarly good.

Advantages of the laparoscopic approach include reduced post-operative pain, shorter hospitalization, faster return to work and improved appearance. The recovery time for the laparoscopic procedure also is expected to be shorter, though similar possible complications exist. Patients who qualify and go through with laparoscopic surgery generally experience the above benefits. In fact, many patients report an improvement in their mood and overall outlook following the surgery.

The ”open” procedure, which is still used and very effective, is often used with patients who do not qualify for the laparoscopic procedure. Qualification for the laproscopic method is dependant on many factors, including medical history and current medical condition. Though the same long-term complications exist with both procedures, the open procedure often leads to longer recovery times due to post-operative treatment.

While diet and exercise undoubtedly play an integral part in maintaining a healthy lifestyle, someone who is diagnosed with clinical severe obesity faces difficult challenges with respect to their weight. The only treatment proven to be effective in the long-term management of clinical severe obesity is surgical intervention. Typically, patients who undergo non-surgical weight loss treatments regain their weight (if not more) within five years.

With bariatric surgery, patients can expect to lose somewhere between 65-75 percent of excess body weight over 12 to 18 months. Of course, these estimates vary from person to person, based on an individual’s desired weight loss and the level of exercise they perform on a regular basis.

For a relatively comfortable experience and recovery, laparoscopic bariatric surgery has become one of the most renowned procedures for both doctors and patients alike. By using a small camera and performing the operation via a video monitor, bariatric physicians report fewer complications during surgery, and patients experience less pain and recovery time with a greater sense of satisfaction.