Liposuction is a very common cosmetic surgery. It is the most common surgical procedure for those between 25 and 64. You may hear of liposuction in passing, but what really is this procedure that is so popular and is it actually safe?

What is liposuction?

Suction-assisted lipectomy or liposuction is an outpatient procedure. This procedure involves removing adipose tissue to achieve body contour. Another advantage of liposuction is that the removal of fat cells limits the future collection of fat in those areas. This procedure allows doctors to semi-permanently redistribute fat in the body.

Liposuction is also used in reconstructive surgery. Breast and facial reconstruction use liposuction when fat is reinjected into tissues during the surgery. Another popular use of liposuction is the gluteal fat transfer or the Brazilian butt lift. In this procedure, a high volume of fat is transferred from the abdomen or inner thighs to the buttocks. This creates a body contour of slim legs, waist, and round buttocks.

Gluteal fat transfers have become one of the most popular surgical procedures. This is often due to the popularity and trends that plastic surgery is associated with. While liposuction can be an excellent option for many, it is recommended that you seek out plastic surgeons with the appropriate certifications in the nation you choose to have the surgery completed. [1]

How safe is liposuction?

Liposuction is a relatively low-risk procedure. Complications and mortality are rare with liposuction. The most common complication of liposuction is contour deformity. This can look like folds or wrinkles on the skin. Seroma and hematoma are also rare, but possible complications of liposuction. Infection is also rare, but possible. Surgeons with high expertise tend to have the lowest rates of infections with their patients. Infections can be dangerous and could lead to life-threatening sepsis.

Some other surgery complications of liposuction include edema, lymphedema, wound dehiscence, and scars forming. To avoid complications with liposuction you should research your surgeon choice well and feel comfortable with you and your surgeon’s plans for the procedure. [1]

Liposuction has been improved over the years to be a safer procedure. There have been improvements in technique, outcomes, and safety. The anesthesia used for liposuction is very safe and the tools used for liposuction are safe as well. Devices used for liposuction such as radiofrequency-assisted liposuction have been developed to be a safer way to perform liposuction, and these devices are also very effective. [2]

 

What are the benefits of liposuction?

The benefits of liposuction for most are a more contoured body and redistributing fat. Many people feel more confident in their bodies after liposuction. You can take fat from your arms, legs, or abdomen and transfer it somewhere else in your body if you wish. Many people enjoy this control over their bodies. It is an added benefit that after the fat is removed, it is unlikely to return.

Liposuction is also a treatment for the disorder lipedema. Lipedema is a disorder where there is a large amount of fat in the upper and lower legs. This disorder is most common in females. This condition is rare, but it can be difficult to diagnose. Liposuction is the main surgical treatment for lipedema. This can remove some of the build-ups of fat in patients and relieve some of the symptoms associated with lipedema.

Liposuction can help many people feel more confident in their skin and treat disorders like lipedema. [3]

Sources:

[1] Wu S, Coombs DM, Gurunian R. Liposuction: Concepts, safety, and techniques in body-contouring surgery. Cleve Clin J Med. 2020 Jun;87(6):367-375. doi: 10.3949/ccjm.87a.19097. Erratum in: Cleve Clin J Med. 2020 Jul 31;87(8):476. PMID: 32487557.

[2] Chia CT, Marte JA, Ulvila DD, Theodorou SJ. Second Generation Radiofrequency Body Contouring Device: Safety and Efficacy in 300 Local Anesthesia Liposuction Cases. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2020 Sep 24;8(9):e3113. doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000003113. PMID: 33133962; PMCID: PMC7544184.

[3] Peprah K, MacDougall D. Liposuction for the Treatment of Lipedema: A Review of Clinical Effectiveness and Guidelines [Internet]. Ottawa (ON): Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health; 2019 Jun 7. PMID: 31479212.

Whether or not you feel as if you indulge on food or you control your meal portions very well, leptin resistance can trap anyone into a vicious cycle of weight gain. If specific leptin signals influence your physiology and those are being blocked, of course it is in your best interest to find out what you could possibly do to become more sensitive to those leptin signals again.

 

What is leptin resistance exactly?

 

Approximately only the size of a pea, the hypothalamus is the part of your brain neurologists have identified as responsible for recognizing the energy needs of your body. When the hypothalamic cells stop recognizing hormone signals that circulate through the blood stream, which reflect the body’s total energy stores directly, this leads to insatiable hunger, brain fog, low energy and irritability because of the misperception made by the hypothalamus that the body is starving. 

Three factors are known to contribute to this health condition: chronic inflammation, elevated free fatty acids and having higher than average leptin levels in general. The consensus is that these factors interfere with the hormone signaling process.[1]

Inflammatory responses that occur around the body are a natural, protective mechanism and a part of healing. However, sustained inflammation can cause chronic conditions like multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes or lymphocytic thyroiditis, which are conditions that can go hand in hand with obesity.[2]

 

 

Adolescence and fat cell accumulation

 

At this point in time, it remains well understood that the total number of fat cells living within the human body never shifts throughout adulthood. Therefore, the weight maintained during childhood can directly impact your state of health in later years because you will be able to control only the volume of fat that accumulates within those stores, not the total count itself.[3]

 

What can you do to improve your circumstances?

 

Expert advice suggests that you can counter and even improve leptin sensitivity via diet by eating plenty of soluble fiber and protein while reducing your total consumption of carbohydrates, which will in turn promote weight loss and decrease triglyceride levels.[4]

Liposuction and even bariatric surgeries might also be advisable for those seeking out treatments for leptin resistance. A surgical procedure such as liposuction offers permanent results based on the fact that it decreases the total fat cell count on the hips, under the chin or around the belly, for example. A gastric balloon, on the other hand, would help a patient limit weight gain by slowing down the speed at which they eat and limiting the overall amount of food consumed.

At our clinic, we understand the nuances of maintaining weight and the balancing act that it often feels like to control your health and regain energy. On top of this, we see our location in the heart of Europe as an attractive opportunity to see a little more of the world as you seek out treatment.

Sources:

[1] Gunnars, Kris. “Leptin and Leptin Resistance: Everything You Need to Know.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 4 Dec. 2018, www.healthline.com/nutrition/leptin-101. 

[2] Pérez-Pérez, Antonio, et al. “Role of Leptin in Inflammation and Vice Versa.” International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 21, no. 16, 16 Aug. 2020, p. 5887., doi:10.3390/ijms21165887. 

[3] Yong, Ed. “Fat Cell Number Is Set in Childhood and Stays Constant in Adulthood.” National Geographic, National Geographic Society, 4 May 2008, www.nationalgeographic.com/science/phenomena/2008/05/04/fat-cell-number-….

[4] Gunnars, Ibid. 

Liposuction is a common plastic surgery procedure. Many people decide to have this procedure to take away some unwanted fat in areas of their body. Whatever your reason for deciding to get liposuction, before you have the procedure you need to be prepared for the recovery period.

What is recovery like?

Recovery can be split into two categories, there is the immediate recovery and long-term recovery. Immediate recovery is when you can return to work in about a week and return to physical activities in six weeks. Long-term recovery can last about three months. There are a few stages of recovery after surgery including: 

• Immediately after surgery when your doctor puts a compression garment on the areas where the surgery was performed.

• A few hours after surgery is when the anesthesia wears off more and some discomfort begins. The amount of discomfort depends on the area where you had liposuction. You should stay overnight in the hospital to be monitored.

• A few days after surgery your doctor will remove the compression garments and check the incision. 

• After the first week, you should have a gentle massage on the area to move the fluid around. Swelling will continue to decrease over time. 

 

Recovery is nothing to be afraid of, but you should be aware of the different stages that you will go through. Your doctor will be with you every step of the way and you can always reach out if you have any concerns. [1]

 

What should you not do during recovery?

Liposuction is a very safe surgery, but there are some things you should not do during recovery. Some of these things are:

• Not moving, you need to get up and move a few days after your surgery. If you don’t move at all you have a higher risk for blood clots. In the first few days after your surgery, you should get up and walk around your home.

• Not drinking water is something you can’t do. You must stay hydrated after liposuction surgery. Drinking water will minimize your chances of excessive swelling.

• Not wearing your compression garment. Wearing your garment at all times for the first few weeks after your surgery will help your swelling and healing. If you take your garment on and off too many times you could be at risk of developing more fluid.

• Sitting in still water. You should not take a bath or sit in still water for about a month after surgery. Baths and still water can increase your chance of infection. You can get a waterproof garment so you can shower.

It is important to listen to your doctor and follow your doctor’s instructions closely. These instructions are to keep you safe and ensure a speedy recovery. [2]

Are there complications that can occur?

With any surgery complications can arise. Liposuction is an incredibly safe and common surgery, so you should not be afraid of these possible complications. Despite how safe liposuction is it is still important to know about the possible complications. 

Possible complications include contour irregularity when your skin looks bumpy after healing. Fluid may accumulate under the skin and need to be drained. The affected area could become numb for a period. Infection is possible but very rare. Fat embolism is a complication that occurs when fat becomes trapped in a blood vessel, this complication is considered a medical emergency. 

The risk of complications increases if the surgery is being done on a larger area or having multiple procedures done at once. Your surgeon will make you aware of any possible complications. To make liposuction as safe as possible, you might consider only having this one procedure done before any others. [3]

 

Sources:

1 https://www.healthline.com/health/cosmetic-surgery/liposuction-recovery#…

2 https://www.insider.com/guides/beauty/what-not-to-do-after-liposuction

3 https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/liposuction/about/pac-20384586

You may be interested in weight loss surgery and confused by the different options. The gastric balloon procedure is a very common weight loss procedure, but what this procedure entails may be confusing. Before you decide to get weight loss surgery it is important to look at the different options to choose from. 

How does a gastric balloon procedure work?

This weight loss procedure is when a saline-filled balloon is placed in your stomach. This limits your food consumption and makes you feel full quicker. After this procedure, you must be committed to living healthier and making permanent lifestyle changes. 

 

This procedure is very short, it will take place in about thirty minutes. You will be sedated and a catheter with the balloon will be placed from your throat to your stomach. A camera will be placed in the tube so the doctor can see what they are doing. The tube enters your stomach where the doctor will fill the balloon with saline. After the procedure, you will be kept for an hour and then you are free to go home. The balloon will be left in place for six months. After this, a new one will be replaced or it will be taken out entirely. [1]

 

How will I lose weight from a gastric balloon procedure?

This procedure will cause you to lose weight quickly after the balloon is inserted. The balloon will cause you to feel less hungry and to feel full quickly. In the six months after your procedure, you will lose weight rapidly. Typically you will work with a nutritionist who will ensure you are eating healthy and eating a diet that you can continue for a long time. This procedure isn’t necessarily a quick fix, because the goal is to remove the balloon. After the balloon is removed the hope is that you will continue a healthier lifestyle. The purpose of this procedure is to begin your weight loss journey. The balloon will cause you to lose weight quickly initially, but then you will stagnate if you don’t make some lifestyle changes. This procedure is great because it is non-invasive and causes you to lose weight easily. It is important to remember that this procedure won’t be a permanent fix. [2]

What are the risks of a gastric balloon procedure?

With any procedure, there are some risks. A gastric balloon procedure is not invasive so luckily there aren’t too many severe risks to be concerned with. Immediately after the procedure, you may experience nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramping. After three to four days these side effects should subside. Some long-term risks include intolerance and rupture. Some patients who experience intolerance are not able to tolerate the side effects of the balloon. Nausea and other side effects are too extreme for them and they get their balloon removed. The risk of rupture is very small, but it is possible. Dye is in the balloon, so if the balloon ruptured you would notice as your urine would be green from the dye. The risks of a gastric balloon procedure are very small and unlikely. Most people who have had this procedure feel that the benefits vastly outweigh the risks. [3]

Sources:

1 https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/intragastric-balloon/about/p…

2 https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/endoscopic-weight-loss-program/services/…

3 https://gastricballoongroup.com/gastric-balloon-risks/

Making lifestyle changes and preserving those key elements that compose a whole diet are sustainable choices when pursuing weight loss. In due time, you will notice that all the small changes you have adopted, no matter how miniscule, will have led to a sustainable weight in the long run.

 

Myths you need to erase from your memory

Unfortunately, fad diets and quick body-altering tactics have skewed our understanding of body fat, digestion and even weight gain itself. In order to move on, imagine a great big red “x” next to any thoughts you have had in the past that might hold you back. Generally, remember these busted myths:

• Skipping breakfast. If you do it, you will likely feel tired and want to overcompensate later with high-fat and high-calorie snacks.

• Restricting foods to a minimum for a week. A short, timed goal like this might alter your look immediately, but your time is better spent implementing smaller, long-term adjustments.

• Cutting out treats. How unfair! Reward yourself and even keep an eye out for healthier treats that you might have taken a liking to during this period of life-style change.

• Focusing on one area of the body over the body as a whole. If you are working to build muscle tone in one spot, then fine, but know that your body burns fat throughout the whole body at once, not just in one particular spot.

• Maintaining intense workout regimes. Sorry, Sister, but it’s not just a gym membership that would melt fat. Gardening, walking dogs, house chores and even low intensity exercise plans you’ve found through an app, which you can pick up at home, will all burn calories.

 

 

 

Focus on these foods and habits to keep your mind on track

It would be hard to find somebody that liked the feeling of hunger and even Gandhi once said “there are people in the world so hungry that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread”. If you want to stay sharp, keep alert and avoid nagging feelings of hunger, here are a couple of pro tips.

• Fiber is your ultimate friend! Fiber from whole grains not only keeps you full for a very long time, it even reduces your risk of developing numerous health conditions.

• Snacking between meals greatly reduces any anxiety you might develop before you can get to another meal. Hey! Fruit and vegetable slices aren’t only for preschoolers. 

• Write down notes on how you are reacting to full-fat versus reduced-fat products. If you select low-fat foods but then eat twice the amount as you would otherwise, then what’s the point?

Maybe cooking doesn’t come easy for you yet and that’s a major set back to your weight loss program. Plenty of companies have formed because they know it sometimes takes a team and greater support system to shed weight, and that’s where meal plans come into play. Hello Fresh may work for you because their meals kits are available to those in the United States, Canada, Western Europe, New Zealand and Australia, plus they focus on teaching you how to cook as well. Fantastic! Buenísima.

 

Change the way you approach food for the better

One of the largest takeaways you can utilize as you pursue weight loss is to be mindful of your food combinations. A carbohydrate may have less than half the calories fat contains, however, fatty toppings paired with those carbs won’t help you reach your weight loss goals. In addition, some people may choose to abstain from carbohydrates largely based on leptin resistance, which causes the body to feel hungry and tired even when you are consistently consuming food as usual. So, keep track of what makes you feel awake, energized, and what’s feeding your soul as well as body.

Sources:

 

[1] “Dieting Myths.” British Heart Foundation, British Heart Foundation, www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/support/healthy-living/healthy-eating/….

The presence of obesity almost tripled between 1975 and 2016 according to data provided by the World Health Organization and, globally, 39% of adults exceed a healthy weight, with 13% of those technically classifying as obese.[1] If you feel as if you are a part of those nearly 2 billion people whom struggle to maintain a lower weight, looking at food through a slightly different lens and creating meal plans for yourself may go a long way.

 

Leptin resistance

Consider leptin as a signal carried through the bloodstream, which always corresponds directly to the total amount of fat in your body because it is produced by fat cells themselves. Trouble is, though, when brain cells located in the hypothalamus stop recognizing these leptin signals. It affects how much and how often you feel a need to eat especially, and leaves you with minimal energy despite there being plenty. Hey! Not cool.

However, expert advice suggests that you can counter and even improve leptin sensitivity by reducing your total consumption of carbs as well as by eating plenty of soluble fiber and protein, which will in turn promote weight loss and decrease triglyceride levels.[2]

The general rule of thumb is to also cut out anything that includes over 5 ingredients, as that’s the easiest indicator that you’re consuming ultra-processed food. If you feel a craving for something that’s on the no-go list, keep an eye out for an equally satisfying, healthier substitute that captures the essence of what you crave.

 

Intermittent fasting and metabolic flexibility

Will Cole is a functional medicine practitioner and author that now promotes something he calls ‘intuitive fasting’ and fasting for the purpose of combating leptin resistance and regaining metabolic flexibility, which is our body’s natural capability to utilize all potential sources of energy.[3]

In his new book, Intuitive Fasting, Cole includes meal plans, daily eating schedules and presents an approach you can use to understanding your body’s cravings and cues.

 

 

What foods should go into my meal exactly?

Within Intuitive Fasting, you’ll find a month-long flexible fasting plan paired with a cyclical ketotarian food plan. What exactly is a ketotarian diet? Ketotarian meals are essentially plant-based versions of the low-carb, high-fat keto diet but it can easily be altered to fit your needs, such as to include eggs, ghee or fish for example.

The key here is to build your meals with ingredients that scream “vibrant wellness” or power boosting but to do so mindfully, and with some attention being paid to how you feel after eating these food combinations. Take these ingredients particularly into account:

• Avocados 

• Olives

• Coconut cream

• Sea vegetables like nori or dulse

• Dark leafy vegetables like spinach or kale

• Sulfur-rich vegetables like Brussels sprouts, cabbage or asparagus

• Nuts and seeds like macadamias, almonds or walnuts

• Low-fructose fruits like blackberries or currants [3]

Additionally, think about what meals you can create that routinely bring in avocado oil, extra virgin olive oil or coconut milk.

Most importantly, jotting down notes or keeping a food diary will help you pinpoint problematic ingredients or food combinations. That way, you can know how to avoid an upset stomach, reflux, head ache, acne or general inflammation and discomfort, plus you’ll feel better knowing that you’re making those changes strategically.

 

Cancel the “honeymoon” celebration if you also seek out surgery

Some people go through a ton of hurdles for weight loss. They eat like a rabbit and hit the gym religiously. They settle for detoxes and pump iron till the pounds melt off. Others make a plan that includes exercise and surgery, like bariatric surgery. Your road to a healthier life might involve a sleeve or gastric bypass, for example, but surgery alone will not affect the food choices you make. Research even shows that patients that refrain from “honeymooning” in the first months after surgery significantly decrease their chances of recurrence.[4]

Gastric surgery patients do receive diet and nutritional guidance as part of treatment but it will always be up to them to embrace intentional diet change and to be open to new culinary experiences for the sake of their long-term health.

 

 

Sources: 

[1] Farias, Gisele, et al. “Impact of Dietary Patterns According to NOVA Food Groups: 2 y after Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery.” Nutrition, vol. 74, June 2020, p. 110746., doi:10.1016/j.nut.2020.110746.

[2] Gunnars, Kris. “Leptin and Leptin Resistance: Everything You Need to Know.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 4 Dec. 2018, www.healthline.com/nutrition/leptin-101. 

[3] “How to Achieve Metabolic Flexibility.” Goop, Goop Inc, 21 Jan. 2021, goop.com/wellness/health/how-to-achieve-metabolic-flexibility/?ref=newsletter. 

[4] Farias, Gisele, et al, Ibid.

In the UK and Germany, a surgical fat transfer procedure will typically set you back between £2,000 (€2,400) and £6,500 (€7,800), depending on the level of fat being transferred and the size of the area being operated upon. You may also need to pay for consultancy and aftercare costs. In certain parts of Europe, however, fat transfers can be significantly more affordable.

 

What is a fat transfer?

A fat transfer – also known as a fat graft or lipomodelling – is a type of cosmetic surgery procedure which involves taking fat from one part of the body – such as the thighs or tummy – via liposuction, and then injecting it into another area, such as the breasts, buttocks or face. [1]

 

A fat transfer can be carried out throughout the body, but it is most commonly used in the facial area to enhance cheeks, fill out hollow eyelids, and cosmetically enhance areas that have lost shape and volume due to ageing.

 

 

What are the benefits of a fat transfer?

There are a number of benefits to having lipomodelling surgery, including:

 

• The removal of fat from areas of your choosing

• The use of your own natural tissue instead of implants

• Increased sensation in the breast over artificial implants

• Enhanced cosmetic features

• Increased body confidence

 

Although a fat transfer is classed as a minor type of cosmetic surgery, depending on where you choose to have your surgery performed, it can be an expensive procedure and results cannot always be guaranteed. [3] Before going ahead with lipomodelling, please speak to a qualified surgeon who will be happy to discuss the benefits and risks of a fat transfer with you in further detail.

 

How does a fat transfer work?

A surgical fat transfer is carried out at a dedicated cosmetic clinic or hospital under general or local anaesthetic and involves three key stages:

 

• Fat removal. Incisions are made in the skin and excess fat is sucked out using a small tube. These cuts are then stitched up.

 

• Fat preparation. The fat is carefully separated from blood and any other bodily fluids.

 

• Fat injection. A syringe and needle are used to inject the fat into the area of the body that is being enhanced via series of tiny holes of the skin’s surface.

 

This relatively painless procedure usually lasts up to two hours and most patients are discharged the same day. If a large area of the body is being treated, however, your lipomodelling surgery may be carried out over multiple sessions.

 

How long does it take to recover from a fat transfer?

As transferred fat may be reabsorbed by the body during the weeks following your surgery, it can take up to six months for a surgical fat transfer to take full effect.

 

You can expect some minor swelling and bruising to last for a number of weeks – during this time you should avoid any strenuous physical activity or exercise. And, depending on your line of work, it may also be advisable to take a short period of time off from your job. [4]

 

 

SOURCES:

[1] https://www.womenshealthmag.com/beauty/a19962702/fat-transfer-cost/

[2] https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/surgery/reconstruction/types/autologous/fat-grafting

[3] https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cosmetic-procedures/surgical-fat-transfer/

[4] https://www.cadoganclinic.com/what-is-the-recovery-time-from-fat-transfer-to-breast-surgery

What Is A Gastric Balloon?

It does sound more like a gastric problem rather than a gastric solution, but a gastric balloon  — or in medical terminology an intragastric balloon — is a temporary, non-surgical device used to encourage weight loss.

A soft silicon balloon is inserted in the stomach, partially filling it, so that you feel fuller more quickly, and eat less, thus, hopefully, losing weight. It works on the same principle as a nicotine skin-patch, allowing the wearer to gradually reduce his nicotine intake while reducing the severity of withdrawal symptoms. With the gastric balloon in your stomach, you can still eat, and eat some of your favourite foods, but you’re not going to over-indulge, as you’re going to feel bloated  fairly quickly. Gradually, the narrative goes, you get used to eating smaller amounts of food, with all the advantages that that entails.

It basically helps kick-start the lifestyle changes necessary for those unable or not obese enough to undergo bariatric surgery. Though, as the balloon is only temporary — kept in the stomach for between six and twelve months — the wearer must be determined to follow a supervised gastric balloon diet, and to make those lifestyle changes, during and after, his or her period with the balloon. 

 

 

Gastric Balloon Procedure  

The procedure can take as little as fifteen minutes, and is performed under a light anaesthetic in the outpatient area of a clinic or hospital. 

The deflated balloon is inserted through the mouth, down the oesophagus and into the stomach using a thin flexible tube with a camera and light at one end (an endoscope). Once in place, the balloon is filled with a saline solution through a catheter attached to the balloon. After the agreed period, the balloon is removed in the same way.

Patients can go home or back to work immediately after the procedure, though there are regular appointments with a dietician or weight loss surgeon in the ensuing months to ensure there are no problems with the balloon, such as rupture, and weight loss targets are met.

 

 

Will my Bank Account Lose Weight With This Procedure?  

Various types of gastric balloon devices have been approved for use in many countries around the world, and the price of the procedure varies. What should be borne in mind is that the total cost covers three phases:

 

• Pre-operative: professional fees, and perhaps also tests and laboratory work

• The actual procedure: hospital or clinical fees, and personnel — bariatric surgeon, anaesthetist, surgical assistants.

• Post-operative: regular dietician or surgeon appointments, any vitamins and supplements

 

The whole cost will of course vary from country to country and within countries. It tends to be highest in the US, with an estimated average cost of $9,700 (1), while it’s considerably cheaper, on average, in Europe and Turkey. The average price of the procedure across Poland, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Hungary, France, Belgium and Turkey is around $4,800 (2).

Anyone interested in this quick, reversible, and surgery-free procedure should shop around, and not just on the internet. Your doctor or clinician should be able to point you in the right direction, or to the most reliable websites to check. So your bank balance can remain healthily obese, while you shed the pounds on the path to a healthier lifstyle.  

 

 

 

Sources/References:

 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/intragastric-balloon/about/pac-20394435

Updated 13th December 2019, Viewed 9th March 2020

 

https://www.ramsayhealth.co.uk/weight-loss-surgery/gastric-balloon

Updated 28th February 2020, Viewed 9th March 2020

 

1.  https://www.mdsave.com/procedures/gastric-balloon/d582fecf

      Viewed 9th March 2020

 

2.  https://docvivo.com/portfolio/gastric-balloon/

       Viewed 9th March 2020

 

  

Since 1975, global obesity has almost tripled.^[1] So many of us desire to lose weight, but there is no simple solution when left to our own devices. The myriad causes of obesity are not even fully understood, despite our awareness of obesity’s dangers. Diet regimen and lifestyle changes often fail those with underlying issues such as diabetes and hypertension. 

As a rapid weight-loss operation that promises results, bariatric surgery has been a popular option for over half a decade. Over 250,000 people undergo surgeries of this kind every year in the United States alone.^[2] And its success in combating obesity is undisputed. This difference not only alters physical wellbeing, it also allows those struggling with being overweight to claim a new lease on life.

Research shows that patients who have undergone the gastric balloon procedure have an up to 40% reduction in mortality levels.^[3]

 

What does Gastric Balloon surgery entail?

The average surgery lasts only half an hour and is relatively simple. Although this is a surgery The surgeon inserts a thin tube, with the deflated balloon attached, down your throat to your stomach. The balloon is then safely filled with saline.^[4]

At Medical Travel in Prague, there are two bariatric surgery types: the balloon that remains in your stomach for six months, and the one that remains for twelve. An adjustment, if necessary, is also free of charge. Although in some practices a patient leaves after a few hours, our price includes a night at the clinic and postoperative care. Patients with a BMI (body mass index) of 27 and above are accepted.

 

 

Immediate Effects

You will immediately experience a reduction in the quantity of food you can eat before feeling full. The typical weight loss in the first six months is 15%, however, some patients report losing up to 30% of their excess weight.^[5]

The patients who achieve the best results are those who commit to a healthy lifestyle after surgery. Following a nutrition plan maximizes weight loss and is the most efficient way to regain health. At Medical Travel, we offer a six-month programme with a customized plan and Skype sessions with certified professionals.

Although the improvement in your appearance will be distinct, perhaps more important is the improvement to your health. The risk of diabetes, joint issues, and heart-related issues – all of the dangers that come along with obesity – falls. A weight off the body is also a weight off the mind.

 

Sources:

 

Obesity is a complex but growing worldwide epidemic where an individual generates an excess amount of fat in their body.[1] A person is classified as obese when their BMI or Body Mass Index exceeds 30.[2] Obesity itself can be further classified into three categories:

• Class I obesity are for patients with a BMI between 30 and 35
• Class II obesity are for patients with a BMI between 35 and 40
• Class III obesity are for patients with a BMI that exceeds 40[3]

Patients categorized into Class II and III obesity are considered severely obese and will often require surgical assistance known as bariatric surgery to lose the excess weight as dieting and exercise alone has proven to be insufficient.

 

 

Bariatric surgery is a surgical specialty designed to combat the effects of obesity on the body by making changes to the patient’s digestive system – this is done by shrinking the size of the patient’s stomach so they consume less food and drink; filling up a portion of the patient’s stomach with a medical device to create a sense of fullness faster; or changing the patient’s small intestine, which is an organ responsible for absorbing calories and nutrients.[4]

According to historians, the first mentioned of bariatric surgery date back to the 10^th century in Spain where the King of Leon, D. Sancho was reportedly so obese that he could not walk, ride a horse or wield a sword.[5] As a result, he was usurped from his throne and taken to Cordoba, a city in southern Spain by his grandmother to be treated by Hasdai Ibn Shaprut, a famous Jewish doctor.[6]

Shaprut’s unorthodox treatment for D. Sancho’s obesity included suturing the king’s lips shut and feeding him a liquid diet of teriaca, which is a mixture of herbs and opium as a side effect of opium included weight loss.[7] It was reported that under this treatment D. Sancho lost half of his weight and managed to return back to Leon on his horse to reclaim his rightful place on the throne.[8]

Aside from this account, interventions and treatments for overweight individuals remained obscure and scattered until the 1990s, when obesity was beginning to emerge as an epidemic causing the medical community to take note and start considering surgical options in order to combat it.[9]

The first surgical procedure designed to specifically tackle weight loss occurred in the 1950s at the University of Minnesota where the jejunoileal bypass (JIB) was introduced to induce in a patient, a state of malabsorption by bypassing most of the intestines while still keeping the stomach intact.[10] While the surgery did promote weight loss, the side effects patients experienced – diarrhea, night blindness, osteoporosis, kidney stones – resulted in many asking for the procedure to be reversed; and now JIB is no longer considered a recommended bariatric surgical procedure.[11]

In the 1960s, Drs. Msaon and Ito developed the gastric bypass based on findings of weight loss observed in patients who underwent partial stomach removal for ulcers.[12] Proven to be successful with minimum side effects, the gastric bypass became a staple bariatric surgical procedure that is still used today.

 

 

Nowadays, the combination of modern medicine and advanced technology have provided the fodder and ability for doctors and surgeons to expand bariatric medical procedures to include the LAP-BAND, duodenal switch, vertical banded gastroplasty and the gastric balloon. A surgeon or doctor may recommend one over the other depending on the needs of the patient.