For High-Obesity Patients, The Duodenal Switch is Best

The challenge of obesity is that it is personal every single time. There is no singular reason why someone becomes obese—and in that same vein, there is no singular way to treat obesity for every person who struggles with their weight.

Obesity is a challenge that lasts a lifetime. Even after you’ve lost weight, it takes a great deal of energy and motivation to make sure that you don’t fall back into old habits that may contribute to weight gain. The only way to reduce your risk of obesity-related disease is to lose weight for good.

When evaluating bariatric surgery options, it is worth taking into consideration the long-term impacts of these procedures to determine what method may be the most effective for your needs. A few meetings with your bariatric surgeon, Dr. Long, can help you with this decision. However, it is wise to do some research before your initial appointment so that you have an idea regarding what type of weight loss surgery procedure may be most effective for your personal health needs.

Bariatric Surgery for the Highly Obese

The longer you’ve been overweight and the more overweight you are, the more challenging it becomes to lose weight.

That isn’t to say that losing weight is impossible, or that you ought to have done something earlier! If this is the moment of your life when you’ve decided it’s time to start researching bariatric surgery, then this is the right time of life for you. The ability to focus on your health and lose weight is just as much mental as it is physical. So much depends on your mindset.

If you have reached a point where you are considered highly obese and you are ready to take the first step towards a healthier lifestyle, then the loop duodenal switch procedure (also known as the SADIS, SIPS, or OADS) may be the best option for you.

Traditionally the duodenal switch (DS) procedure has long been praised as the most effective form of bariatric surgery for those who have a lot of weight to lose. The procedure is intense and requires permanent changes to the digestive tract that will physically alter your body’s ability to process fats in your diet. This procedure is malabsorptive, which means that in addition to providing a reduced absorption of calories, it also has the consequence of reducing vitamin absorption and requires making long-term changes to your dietary habits so that you are less likely to experience nutrient deficiency. However, nutritional deficiencies remain a concern of this legacy operation.

Because of this Dr. Long has embraced a novel approach to the DS procedure: the loop duodenal switch also known as SIPS or OADS surgery. This is a modification to the original DS procedure that captures the benefit of exceptional weight loss while also giving patients a safer nutrient absorption profile than the historic operation.  This operation uses a restrictive sleeve gastrectomy on top and a single connection loop intestinal bypass on the bottom.

Put simply, the SIPS procedure can help you to lose weight by achieving two basic tasks:

1. Reduces the size of your stomach so you feel full more quickly
2. Changes the structure of your digestive system so that your body doesn’t digest fats, instead pushing them through rapidly to become waste.

These two changes combined are what make the SIPS or OADS procedure ranked the most effective and yet safe operation for those who are severely obese or for those with type II diabetes as the resolution rate can be as high as 97%. Therefore, loop duodenal switch surgery is recommended for individuals with a BMI over 50 especially if diabetes is also a problem.

 Making the Choice: Loop DS vs. Other Bariatric Procedures

Ultimately, there are a handful of bariatric procedures that can be beneficial when overcoming obesity. While the SIPS or OADS procedure is the most highly recommended for those with high-level obesity, there are many benefits that the gastric bypass or roux-en-y procedure can offer, as well. The best way to determine what type of obesity surgery is best for you is to meet with your weight loss surgeon to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of all of these options within the context of your specific health profile.

 For more information about our bariatric procedures, or to schedule a consultation, contact our office. A healthier way of living and a life free from obesity are within your grasp today. When you are ready to make your choice for a higher quality of life, the support and expertise that you need to succeed are waiting, ready, and able to help you to transform your life.