Weight Loss Surgery abroad: Lithuania

A number of studies and national surveys alert that over the past 20 years in most of EU countries  the rate of the obesity has more than doubled and it is an aggravating headache in many other nations. There is no particular answer to the question what triggers obesity nevertheless experts usually name such factors as genetics, cultural, socio-economic, psychological and metabolic issues.

What is obesity?

Obesity is a medical condition in which disbalance between calorie intake and expenditure leads to excessive fat accumulation in human body. It is important to note that  being overweight is different to being obese since obesity may have the detrimental effect on health leading to endocrine diseases causing hormonal disorders, harm to the digestive, respiratory and nervous systems as well as the overall reduction of life.

Treatment options

In most cases obesity is alleviated and cured by arranging balanced and nutritious diet, increasing physical activity or taking medications. However,  in cases of failure to achieve desired weight control with conservative methods surgical treatment is advised.

Several techniques are available for surgical treatment of obesity that are commonly used worldwide and their efficiency in weight correction and management of associated co-morbidities is substantially higher as compared with conservative methods.

Gastric bypass surgery abroad

During the procedure the length of the gastrointestinal tract and the size of the stomach is reduced by almost 90 % therefore onetime food intake capacity decreases significantly and the patient feels early sensation of fullness.  A small pouch is formed from the upper part of the stomach. During the surgery, reduced stomach is connected directly to the middle part of the small intestine thus bypassing the remaining gastric body and the upper part of the small intestine (duodenum). The procedure shortens the “path” of food through the gastrointestinal tract, and therefore less of it is absorbed. The extent of intestinal “bypass” is chosen according to patient’s BMI. This surgery is performed under general anesthesia using minimally invasive laparoscopic approach.

Gastric banding surgery abroad

It is a  surgery of reducing the size of the stomach using an adjustable gastric ring. The surgery reduces the volume of the stomach therefore very small amounts of food make the patient feel full. Consequently, less calories are consumed with food. This is the least invasive technique of weight loss surgery. After the surgery patient‘s onetime food intake decreases significantly, because upper part of the stomach fills very quickly as the ringslows the passage of food to the lower part.

After the gastric surgery patients lose an average of 0.5–1 kg per week. Patients with severe obesity usually lose more weight during the first weeks postoperatively. Consequently, the average weight loss during the first postoperative year varies from 22 to 45 kilograms.

Efficiency

Studies show that gastric bypass or banding procedures help patients lose from 65 % to 80 % of their overweight and encourage to develop better nutritional habits and thus maintain optimal body mass for a long period of time.

However, the appropriate patient’s psychological preparation for the surgery is essential. It is necessary that the patient understood the mechanism through which the surgery causes weight reduction, the importance of adherence to postoperative recommendations, and the fact that the surgery alone (without individual effort of the patient) cannot guarantee desired weight loss.

More about obesity, gastric bypass and banding.

Prices NordBariatric.com

• Gastric bypass - 6.700€
• Gastric banding – 5.300€