What Is Weight Loss Surgery?

Weight loss surgery is also referred to as bariatric surgery and is any type of surgery that is carried out specifically to help you lose weight. Your weight gain may be caused a number of factors such as:

  • Metabolic disorders
  • Hormonal imbalance
  • Genetics – conditions which run in the family

However, put simply it is how much energy you take in (the calories in food and drink) and how much energy your body uses up. If you eat more calories than you burn up, you put on weight. The excess energy is converted into fat and stored in your body. If you eat fewer calories than you burn up, you lose weight. Your body has to tap into its fat stores to get the extra energy it needs.

The key to losing weight is to use up more calories than you consume. Many people find weight loss difficult to achieve. Weight loss surgery can work well to help people lose weight. However an individual recommendation needs to be made following a full review of your medical history and an examination by a weight loss surgeon. Please contact us to book your private consultation.

How does weight loss surgery work?

When considering surgery you must have a full understanding of what surgery involves, including the risks and benefits. For optimal results you will need to make long-term changes to your lifestyle and eating habits after your surgery.

Weight loss surgery works in a number of ways such as:

Surgery which may prevent you from being able to eat so much – for example, by reducing the size of your stomach. This means that you will feel full more quickly and therefore eat less.
Surgery which may change the way that your body handles the food that you eat – this surgery can make the food that you eat bypass part of your gut (intestine) so that fewer calories are taken up (absorbed) by your body from food.
Some types of surgery use a combination of both of these ways.
Some of the different types of weight loss surgery are explained in more detail below. If you would like to discuss any of these options further please contact us to book your private consultation.