What Should You Get: Bariatric Surgery or Liposuction

While both surgeries may temporarily cause a similar end result, bariatric surgery and liposuction are vastly different procedures. Bariatric surgery or weight loss surgery helps obese patients in losing weight and decreases their risk of medical complications in the future. Make sure to consult a surgeon in Islamabad before you make a decision regarding these procedures.

It does so by limiting the amount of food one can eat, or reducing the absorption of nutrients by making a bypass directly to the small intestine.

Liposuction, on the other hand, is considered a cosmetic procedure, for sculpting the body and removing small amounts of unwanted body fat. It is not a weight-loss operation and is not designed to help obese patients in avoiding medical emergencies. Read on to find more about each procedure.

Liposuction:

Liposuction is a decades-old procedure that has been around since the 1970s. It is a surgical method by which the body can be reshaped and sculpted by removing fat cells. Most common areas of redistribution are the upper abdomen, triceps and around the shoulders. Unlike bariatric surgery, it does not interfere with the absorption of nutrients or calorie control.

Research has shown that people who underwent liposuction, compared to those who underwent no treatment, had a return of body fat within one year. Therefore, liposuction is not a long-lasting option for those looking to lose weight and treat obesity.

Bariatric surgery:

On the other hand, bariatric surgery is designed to help those with morbid obesity, and a BMI upward of 35. It affects calorie absorption and the way fat is deposited in the body. In the short term, however, liposuction can give better results, but these results are not sustainable. Thus, those who want sustainable weight reduction can benefit more from bariatric surgery.

There are many types of bariatric surgeries:

• Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: In this procedure, a small pouch is created at the top of the stomach, and this is the only part that receives food. Because of the reduction in size, the intake of food is greatly reduced. A part of the small intestine is then attached to this small pouch.
• Gastric banding: This is a laparoscopic procedure which places an adjustable and inflatable balloon in the upper part of the stomach and creates a small stomach pouch above this band, with a narrow opening to the rest of stomach. This is again designed to limit the amount of food consumed.
• Sleeve gastrectomy: In this procedure, part of the stomach is removed from the body and the rest of the stomach is contorted into a tube-like structure. This smaller part of the stomach naturally can’t hold much food. Moreover, it increases the production of hormone ghrelin that decreases appetite.
• Biliopancreatic diversion: This procedure also involves the removal of a part of the stomach and redirecting it such that most of the food bypasses the small intestine and thus limits the number of nutrients absorbed.

The decision to undergo either of these surgeries is a personal one and should be made after consultation with a professional who can redirect you to whatever procedure is well suited for your body needs. Book an appointment with top weight loss surgeons in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad through oladoc.com, or call our helpline at 042-3890-0939 for assistance to find the RIGHT professional for your concerns.