weight loss surgery

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If you are interested in Gastric Banding or Gastric Bypass (or a weight loss wellness program) simply follow the steps below:

Complete the on line form for your personal price quote.

The surgeon will review your details and offer his or her recommendations.

When you are ready to go forward, fill in the appointment form on line providing your flight information etc

And we truly look forward to welcoming you to this friendly part of the world at the new Bangkok airport.

About obesity surgery (don’t you just hate that name?)

Being severely overweight puts you at a higher risk for developing or worsening many serious medical conditions. There are more than 30 obesity-related medical conditions that can damage your quality of life and cause early death.

Some obesity-related medical conditions include arthritis, several cancers, carpal tunnel syndrome, depression, gallbladder disease, gout, high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol, hypertension, infertility, liver disease, low back pain, obstetric and gynecologic complications, respiratory problems, sleep apnea, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and urinary stress incontinence.

Losing excess weight can improve your health by lowering risks from obesity-related medical conditions. For morbidly obese persons obesity surgery is generally considered the only effective treatment. Obesity surgery can result in significant weight loss.

Benefits of obesity surgery

Obesity surgery helps you lose weight by changing the way your body digests and absorbs food. Generally following obesity surgery you will feel full faster and eat less. Below find a list of some of the most important benefits of obesity surgery:

	Weight loss. With gastric banding weight loss of 50-60% of excess weight can be expected. For gastric bypass weight loss of 70-80% of excess can be expected. Most patients regain some over time, however few regain it all.
	Improvements in obesity-related medical conditions that ware present before surgery
	Enhanced quality of life, improved mobility and stamina, and improved self-esteem
	The surgery has been found to be effective in improving and controlling many obesity-related health conditions.
	Improvements in surgical techniques have resulted in considerable progress in safety and effectiveness. However, it is important to be aware that the effectiveness of obesity surgery depends on a number of factors such as your age, weight before surgery, general health, surgical procedure, commitment to lifestyle changes, and support of friends and family.

Who is candidate for obesity surgery?

Obesity surgery is recommended for persons who are morbidly obese. Obesity is generally measured by means of Body Mass Index (BMI), and a person is considered morbidly obese, and thus a candidate for obesity surgery, if he/she has a BMI of 40 or more. Obesity surgery is also recommended for obese persons that have a BMI of 35 to 40 with serious medical conditions. Below see how you can calculate your BMI:

	BMI = Weight (kg) / height (m) or
	BMI = [Weight (lbs) / height (in)] x 703

However, it is not just about BMI. It is important to consider the health risks of being severely obese, and the benefits you can expect to achieve from losing excess weight (weight loss surgery). If you are unable to perform routine work or domestic activities and this significantly affects your quality of life you may also be a candidate for obesity surgery.

To be a candidate for obesity surgery you must know about the risks and benefits of the surgery and be prepared to commit to lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise. In addition, you should have attempted other means of achieving weight loss prior to considering obesity surgery such as changes in eating behavior, physical exercise and/or prescription drugs.

Please note that you need to be evaluated by a physician in order to finally determine whether you are a candidate for obesity surgery. When you are ready to go forward, fill in the appointment form on line.

Types of obesity surgery

Thailand4Healthcare offers two types of obesity, or bariatric, surgical procedures:

Gastric Banding

Gastric banding is referred to as a restrictive surgery, because its objective is to reduce the size of the stomach by putting an adjustable, restrictive band around the stomach. Gastric banding achieves weight loss by limiting the food intake and making the patient feel full faster. In gastric banding a band is placed around the upper part of the stomach to create a small pouch. A narrow passage to the lower part of the stomach is left at the bottom of the stomach pouch. The small size of the passage means that the food passes through slowly. This means that that the patient will feel full faster and for a longer time.

Gastric Bypass

Gastric bypass is a combination of restrictive surgery with malabsorptive surgery. Malabsorptive surgery refers to alteration of the digestion by bypassing part of the small intestine. In gastric bypass food from the stomach is thus redirected to a lower segment of the intestine resulting in absorption of fewer calories. As opposed to gastric banding, gastric bypass cannot be reversed.

After the surgery

Immediately after your surgery you may be restricted to a liquid diet and it can take several weeks before you can tolerate solid food. To achieve a successful long-term result of obesity surgery you must commit to significantly change your lifestyle. This includes daily exercise and adherence to a number of dietary guidelines. After your surgery, the surgeon will discuss with you the post-surgery guidelines you must follow to ensure a long-term weight loss. You are able to return to your normal level of activity within a few weeks to 6 weeks after your surgery depending on the type of procedure, your physical condition, and the nature of the activity. It is of the utmost importance that woman use the most effective form of birth control during the first 16 to 24 months following obesity surgery, as pregnancy can have potentially severe consequences.

Risks and complications

Below you can see a list of some possible risks and complications of obesity surgery. As you can see, this is serious surgery and your decision should not be take lightly.

	Infection during surgery
	Leaking of stomach juices
	Bleeding and blockage of the small intestine.
	Breathing difficulties
	Wound infections
	Spleen injury
	Stomach pouch stretching (from overeating)
	Gallstones may develop as a result of losing a large amount of weight or from losing weight quickly.Gallstones can be prevented by taking medication.
	Anemia, osteoporosis and other bone disease are nutritional deficiencies that develop after the surgery due to long-term loss of absorptive function. Nutritional deficiencies can be prevented with proper attention to vitamin and mineral intake.
	Women of childbearing age should be aware that quick weight loss and nutritional deficiencies can harm a developing fetus.
	Complications due to anesthesia and medications

	Eating too much at once or not chewing the food enough can cause nausea, stomach discomfort and vomiting.
	A condition called “dumping syndrome” can occur which means food moves too quickly through the small intestine. This is generally not considered a serious health risk but can result in nausea, weakness, faintness and sometimes diarrhea after eating

Pre-surgery guidelines

Please stop taking any blood-thinning agents such as Aspirin, Gingko-Biloba, Vitamin A & E, etc. at least one week before your scheduled. Also please stop smoking and alcohol consumption 2 weeks prior to surgery.