Bariatrics - the Surgical Solution for the Morbidly Obese

Bariatric surgery is surgery that has been designed for the morbidly obese patient to assist them in losing weight, become healthier and live longer. Bariatric surgical procedures are designed to seal off most of the stomach to reduce the amount of food one can eat, and/or modify the gastrointestinal tract to reduce the calories the bodies can absorb. Bariatric surgery is a drastic step, involves major lifestyle changes and should only be considered by the morbidly obese patient who has tried other methods and is facing life-threatening consequences.

But for that person it can make all the difference in the world. Dr. Mark Gibbs of Baptist Health in Arkansas has performed hundreds of Bariatric procedures. "There are several consequences that are associated with morbid obesity and those can be diabetes, heart disease, cancer, stroke, for some women you can be looking at reproductive problems, things such as poly cystitic ovarian disease. Other things can be gall bladder disease, your at a high risk for stroke, you may also have sleep apnea. For people that are suffering from or at great risk to suffer from these conditions Bariatric surgery is literally a lifesaving procedure. There are several procedures, which are available to the patient that is pursuing bariatric surgery. The procedure, which I prefer, is the Rue and Y Gastric Bypass. Now one nice thing that has been developed over the past few years is to perform a Rue & Y gastric bypass laproscopically, which is a minimally invasive approach where the patient is not opened as normally would be, but we use puncture wounds instead of a large incision to perform the surgery."

Nickie Harkins a patient of Dr. Gibbs had the surgery done over a year ago. Since the she has managed to keep off a staggering 185 pounds. " When I first walked into Dr. Gibbs office to have my surgery, I was in a size 4-X. And now I'm in a size large, and a size 7/8 jeans, so I've come a long ways" Lynne Wilson also had the procedure done. "I've lost 85 pounds since then. Prior to my surgery, especially in the summer time like it is now, you could not get me outdoors, now you can't keep me indoors. My husband decided to buy a Jet Ski, and we have been out on the lake just about every week this summer, I'm outside all the time, I have a lot more fun, I can go up stairs.

I can sit down on the floor and play with my nephews and not get winded, or worn out. In the mornings before my surgery I'd get up and put my feet on the floor and on the way to getting dressed, I'd just want to cry because my feet hurt so bad, now I don't have that problem, I get up and go just like normal" Experts say on of the keys to having this kind of success with the procedure is to not only make sure you use an experienced and well qualified surgical team, but are properly informed and educated prior to the surgery. "Ideally we try to see our bariatric patients pre-operatively to give them the idea of what kind of lifestyle changes they're going to be involved with. We talk about the changes that are going to occur pre-operation so they know what to expect and then we also give them instructions after the operation so they know again what they are going to face." Says JoBeth McEllhannon, Clinical Dietician with Baptist Health.

For thousands of Americans obesity continues to be a problem, but with the help of medical professionals and breakthrough technologies, many patients are losing weight, and growing healthier everyday.