What Is the Safest Weight Loss Surgery Option?

When considering weight loss surgery, it is important that you know which options are available to you and to get an opinion from professionals who will consider your medical history. The right surgery for you, will likely be the safest option and understanding the potential risks involved will help to ensure that you find the right weight loss surgery solution for you.

There are three main types of weight loss surgery available to people who fit the following criteria;

  • Have a BMI +35 with other weight related illness such as sleep apnoea, heart conditions or Type 2 Diabetes.
  • Have a BMI +40 if they do not have additional health related illnesses.

 * Streamline surgical are aware that there may be exceptions to the rules.

All of these procedures come with their own pros and cons, and it is important to understand them so that you can weigh the benefits against the potential risks.

What are the different weight loss surgery procedures?

Gastric Band surgery

This surgery involves placing a band just below the esophagus, at the top of the stomach, with a very small pouch of the stomach above it. The band can then be adjusted by injecting saline through an access port that is buried beneath the skin of the abdominal wall. As the saline is added to the band, pressure on the upper stomach increases to reduce appetite.

Risks:

  • Risk of death is below 1 in 5,000
  • The most serious complication is if the band slips. This risk can be reduced by following eating recommendations from your dietician.

 

Gastric Bypass Surgery

Using keyhole surgery, a small rectangular pouch is formed from the upper stomach and then the small intestine is re-configured into a Y shape using staplers. The free end of the Y is then joined to the small stomach pouch.

Risks:

  • The published mortality rate for the UK is below 1 in 1,000
  • The most serious complication is a leak from one of the staple joins, that can lead to peritonitis and septicaemia
  • Patients may find eating difficult
  • There is a potential for an internal hernia to occur after an abdominal procedure

Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Keyhole surgery is used to remove 90% of the stomach to create a narrow tube of approximately 1cm in diameter. It removes the part of the stomach that contains cells that release the hormone that controls appetite.

Risks:

  • The latest published UK data from the National Bariatric Surgery Registry, suggests that the mortality risk is a little higher than for gastric bypass, however, it is still very low, at approximately 1 in 1,000
  • The most serious complication is a leak from one of the staple joins. When this occurs, the healing process can be very slow, with some patients spending months in hospital.

Every surgery has its risks and it is important to weigh the risks against the benefits when it comes to deciding on which weight loss surgery is for you. The risks of the surgery are not the only factors that should be considered. You should also consider whether you are suitable for the surgery – your current weight, mental health and previous medical history, all these factors will play a part in deciding which type of weight loss surgery is for you.

Which Weight Loss Surgery Is the Safest?

Gastric band surgery is the safest operation, due to it being the least invasive and having the lowest risk of mortality or complications. The surgery is reversible and any complications can be fixed, whereas other surgeries and their complications are not so easily remedied.

Streamline Surgical have a zero-mortality rate from our weight loss surgeries due to our highly experienced surgeons and our efforts to try to minimise the risk of long-term complications, such as hernias, by correcting the problem areas during the operation.

If you would like to talk about your weight loss surgery options, please give Streamline Surgical a call on 0333 016 3030 or make an enquiry online.