Gastric bypass surgery is a procedure used to help treating obesity and hence, it is surgical method for generally performed to lose the weight by cutting off the hunger and so supplying fewer calories than required. Calorie intake can be significantly controlled since gastric bypass surgery results into two main favors; after the surgery, the stomach size is reduced and hence, one feels stomach fuller even after eating little quantity foods and since stomach and small intestines are skipped over (bypassed), there are fewer chances for the calories to get absorbed and get turned into fats.

Gastric bypass surgery alters the entire anatomy of the digestive system and limits the amount of the food that would be eaten and digested. The surgery promotes weight loss and hence keeps body away from all the medical problems related to obesity or overweight. The surgery is one of the most preferred treatment method adopted in US since the surgery is safer as compared to other invasive and complicated surgery and it has fewer complication chances. Gastric bypass surgery offers long-term and consistent weight loss if it is accompanied with other weight loss regimens such as diet restriction, behavior and lifestyle changes.

The surgery, blindly, cannot be performed on all. It is not for everyone and hence the patient has to meet certain criteria to undergo gastric bypass surgery. The patient might have to undergo certain tests and screening before going for the surgery. Once the formalities are done, the patient is taken in the operation room where the surgery is performed in general anesthesia. The surgeon makes a small pouch at the top of the stomach and creates a bypass around a section of the stomach along with some portion of small intestines. The surgeon then staples the stomach across the top and seals it off from the rest of the portion of the stomach.

The pouch created measures a size of a walnut and its capacity of holding the food is drastically reduced (about an ounce of food!). A pouch is kept separated from the rest of portion of the stomach and small intestines will be cut and part of it is stitched directly onto the pouch. The entire procedure will result into bypassing the foods from the stomach and first section of the intestines called duodenum. Foods then gets into the second section of the small intestines called as jejunum and hence limit the ability of intestines to absorb the calories, the main culprit in brining obesity. Though the food bypasses the stomach, the organ remains healthy and yet secrets the digestive juices that later mix-up with the foods in the small intestines.

Gastric bypass surgery can also be performed using laparoscope (a small tubular surgical instrument that has camera attached and through little incision, it is inserted into the body and through camera, the image is displayed on the screen and hence the operation is performed without any big scars/cuts. As compared to the traditional ‘open’ gastric bypass surgery, laparoscopic surgery is preferred nowadays because it shortens the duration of the surgery and produces fewer side effects.

After gastric bypass surgery, the patient is generally not allowed to eat for 1-3 days in order to provide enough time to the stomach to get healed. Afterwards, one has to follow strict diet that is prescribed or suggested by the surgeon for about 12 weeks. However, the progression begins with liquid diet only and gradually, soft foods are introduced. Finally after few more months, regular diet is allowed.

One can expect to lose 50%-60% of the excess weight after the first two years of gastric bypass surgery. However, one has to follow strict diet and need to adopt a particular lifestyle to keep this for long term. In addition to the weight loss, gastric bypass surgery also improves some other condition such as Type II diabetes, high blood cholesterol, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease).

Tummy tuck is medically known as ‘abdominoplasty’. As the name suggests, it is a popular cosmetic surgery method that is used to tighten overall abdominal muscles and skins that are starched and appear drooped. Performing such procedure will get a patient smoother and flatter appearance.

There are various factors that lead to loosen abdomen that peep out of the body frame. Factors like weight gain, sudden weight loss, pregnancy, excessive alcoholism, sedentary lifestyle can make abdomen bigger and huge. It then becomes difficult to make it again slim and trim. This is because in many cases, the abdomen would be the only part of the body that is just ‘out of its boundaries’ and rest of the body is within the body-frame. Making abdomen flatten requires a special focus on abdomen without affecting other part of the body. Tummy tuck, here, plays vital role getting those muscles back into their places.

One of the other benefits of getting abdominoplasty done is along with flattening the abdomen, it also makes waist slimmer and firmer. However, the degree of improvement differs from person to person depending upon the magnitude of the tummy tuck procedure, individual’s healing process, body build, person’s skin tone and other factors that contribute to the surgical outcomes. Whatever the matter is, most of the people feel happy after undergoing tummy tuck.

In the operation theater

In order to get maximum benefits of abdominoplasty, different surgical methods are adopted and suitable technique will be selected after examine the patient thoroughly. Most of the procedures are performed under general anesthesia. In full tummy tuck procedure, an incision is made across the lower part of the abdomen just above the pubic region. After this incision, a second incision follows around the umbilicus in order to make surrounding skin loose.

The next step involves separating patient’s abdominal skin from the wall of abdomen and following this, the abdominal muscles, which are loosen are pulled from the left and right flanks and then they are sutured. This entire procedure results into tighter, flatter abdominal muscles. It also creates stronger and firmer abdominal wall along with trimmer waist. Soon after tightening and suturing abdominal muscles, the extra skins are removed and a new opening is formed in a correct direction for the umbilicus. The completing step of tummy tuck, remaining incisions will be closed with suturing i.e. stitching and/or staples. The operation ends when surgical gauze is put over incision areas and then antiseptic lotion or cream is applied to prevent any kind of post-operative infections.

In partial tummy tuck procedures is less invasive as compared to full one and it does not require patient to be ‘in-patient’. It typically needs to be done under local anesthesia. However, such procedure might be advised getting done in conjunction with liposuction. This combination results into rejuvenated and dramatic body contour. Tummy tucks generally require 2-5 hr, depending upon the extent of the procedure (like full or partial, with or without liposuction etc.).

Post-procedure regimens

After the surgery, the patient is often advised with certain regimen, dietary changes, lifestyle modification and some light physical activities. As with most of the surgical methods, scars do result from abdominoplasty and sometimes, these scars look worse. However, they flatten out and lighten in color over the times. They do not disappear totally and that is why, such scars are often done over the areas that are subsequently covered under the cloths, bathing suits etc. There are many products available in the market for removing such scars from the body and there is no harm trying them until they are herbal.

The junk food, canned/packed food and food with preservatives are avoided. One should switch on to fresh fruit juices and having dark green leafy vegetables (in salads etc). Olive oil and fish oil are good to have since they contain some amount of omega 3 fatty acids. Latest researches favor practicing some holy exercises such as Yoga and Pranayama that can make the body’s physical and mental levels in harmonious state

Getting acquainted

Liposuction is also known as liposculpture or in simple words, a suction lipectomy. Suction lipectomy is derived from the therapy’s ‘suction-assisted fat removing’ action. It is nothing but a kind of cosmetic surgery wherein the fatty layers that are accumulated in the human body are removed by a special operation. Generally, liposuction is performed on the larger parts of the body such as buttocks, thighs, backs, buttocks etc. However, if required, it can also be performed on neck, arms or any bodily part that contains unwanted fatty layers.

Liposuction is the most common plastic surgery that is performed in the United States. However, it is not an alternative to physical activities (such as physical exercises) and diet but it is a form of some instrumental procedure that may involve significant risks. In spite of such contradictory, liposuction, for many men and women, is something like a dream coming true. This is because it is the best way to remove any unwanted lumps, bulges and those extra pounds of ugly fats without any requirement of physical workouts by the sufferer.

Accumulation of the fats – a main culprit

The human body is one of the most complex structures created by the nature. In this complex body, there are plenty of complex systems that continuously work without any failure and for this they require fuel. This fuel, we call as calories, is provided by the food we eat since each of the edible item carries few or more calories. Once the food is consumed, the body reacts with the food and draws energy from it. The energy is then used to perform various tasks with the help of those bodily systems. Everything is fine till there is a perfect equilibrium between the ‘calories taken’ and ‘calories used’. The case turns when you consume more calories than what is required by body. Those extra calories are then stored as nothing but the fats somewhere in the body.

Generally, the fats take place beneath the chin, on the flanks, hips, abdomen, inner and/or outer thighs, buttocks, and waist and lower legs. In men, the deposits could be at chest area (literally gives an appearance of breasts) and abdomen (tummy); however in women, it could be buttocks, thighs, abdomen and hips. Liposuction makes the body slimmer by removing those ugly fatty layers from a particular part of the body. Liposuction can also remove the sweat glands from the armpits so that the body-odor is controlled.

Liposuction – a breakthrough

In the procedure of liposuction, a small hollow needle (called as ‘cannula’) is used. Through this sharp and tiny needle, the fatty tissue is removed by suction since it creates tunnels through the fatty tissues beneath the skin. As the body heals, the tunnels then start collapsing and as a result of that there is a better-contoured body. The procedure is therefore, many times, referred as body contouring technique.

The results of lipo suction majorly depend upon the healing of the tunnels from the cannula, the full benefits of liposuction procedure is often remains hidden until one year. However, once the healing fastens, there will be drastic change in the appearance of those fatty areas that used to contain ugly and unwanted fatty tissues.

Liposuction cosmetic surgery is carried out in many varieties such as Tumescent, Super Wet, Wet, Power Assisted (PAL), and Ultrasonic (UAL) etc. They all are various types or techniques to perform liposuction.

Liposuction – not for all

Liposuction, as said before, is not an alternative to weight loss and hence, it is very important for anyone to get thoroughly checked before adopting such surgery. It is therefore, liposuction should be at the bottom of your list of priorities treating fatty layers. Before this invasive surgery, other options must have been tried. For liposuction, a person must meet certain criteria such as he/she should be having elastic skin, has physical and mental stability and has realistic expectations. People with diabetes, heart disease, kidney or liver impairment are also treated with caution.