In this article, Dr. Harsh Sheth, a Premium Bariatric surgeon in Mumbai, talks about “What is Bariatric surgery and the types of Bariatric surgery?”
Dr. Harsh Sheth is a bariatric surgeon in Mumbai with over ten years of experience. He is considered one of the best consultants in advanced laparoscopic and bariatric surgery in Mumbai.
He has worked at the Saifee Hospital, Bhatia Hospital, Apollo Spectra Hospital (Tardeo), Mumbai Central, and Conwest & Manjula S Badani Jain Charitable Hospital, among other facilities.

Gastric bypass and other weight-reduction treatments collectively referred to as bariatric surgery entail altering your digestive system to help in weight loss.
Bariatric surgery is performed when diet and exercise have failed to reduce your weight or when you are experiencing significant health concerns due to your weight. Some techniques provide both functions. Some procedures have restrictions on how much you can eat. The effectiveness of other operations is based on the body’s ability to absorb nutrients.
Why should you have it?
Bariatric surgery is performed to assist you in losing excess weight and lowering your chance of developing potentially life-threatening weight-related health conditions, such as:
- Heart disease and stroke are two of the most common health problems.
- High blood pressure is a medical condition.
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), also known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, is a chronic liver condition caused by excessive alcohol consumption (NASH)
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Type 2 diabetes is a type of diabetes that affects the pancreas.
Bariatric surgery is usually performed only after you have attempted to reduce weight by altering your eating and physical activity habits.
Who should have it?
In general, bariatric surgery may be an option for you if you meet the following criteria:
If your body mass index (BMI) is 40 or more, you are overweight (extreme obesity).
Your BMI is between 35 and 39.9 (obesity), and you suffer from a severe weight-related health concern, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or severe sleep apnea, due to your obesity. If your BMI is between 30 and 34 and you suffer from substantial weight-related health problems, you may be eligible for certain forms of weight-loss surgery in particular circumstances.
If you are significantly overweight, bariatric surgery may not be the best option. To be considered for weight-loss surgery, you may need to meet specific medical requirements. You will very certainly be subjected to a rigorous screening process to determine your eligibility. It would help if you also were committed to making long-term adjustments to live a healthier lifestyle.
In some cases, participants in long-term follow-up plans may be expected to participate in programs that entail monitoring their nutrition, their way of life and behavior, as well as their medical issues.
Also, keep in mind that bariatric surgery is a costly procedure. Consult your health insurance plan, as well as your local Medicare or Medicaid office, to determine whether such operation is covered under your policy, says Dr. Harsh Sheth, a leading Bariatric Surgeon in Mumbai.
Types of Bariatric surgery

Each type of bariatric surgery has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Please make an appointment with your doctor to discuss them. Listed below are some examples of frequent types of bariatric surgery:
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
This operation is the most often used technique of gastric bypass. It works by limiting the amount of food you may consume in a single sitting and restricting the absorption of nutrients in the body. It is common for this operation to be irreversible.
The surgeon makes a cross-sectional cut across the top of your stomach, separating it from the remainder of your abdomen. The resulting pouch is approximately the size of a walnut and has a capacity of about one ounce of food. Usually, your stomach can hold around 3 quarts of food.
The surgeon cuts a portion of the small intestine in the following step and sews it directly onto the pouch. This little pouch of the stomach is subsequently connected to the small intestine, allowing food to pass into the small intestine without passing through it. Instead of passing through a large portion of your stomach and entering into the first area of your small intestine, food travels straight through and into the middle section of your small intestine.
Sleeve gastrectomy
A sleeve gastrectomy is a surgical procedure in which approximately 80 percent of the stomach is removed, leaving a long, tube-like pouch. This smaller stomach is unable to accommodate as much food. It also causes a decrease in the production of the appetite-regulating hormone ghrelin, which may reduce your desire to consume food.
The benefits of this operation include significant weight loss and the fact that the intestines are not rerouted. Another advantage of the Sleeve Gastrectomy procedure is that it requires less time in the hospital than most other procedures.
Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch
Mumbai-based Dr. Harsh Sheth notes that this surgery has two parts, the first of which requires conducting a procedure similar to a sleeve gastrectomy. The second component involves executing a process identical to a gastric bypass. The second operation entails connecting the terminal section of the intestine to the duodenum near the stomach (duodenal switch and biliopancreatic diversion), which allows the patient to avoid undergoing the entirety of the intestine in the first surgery.
This procedure restricts the amount of food you can consume and lowers the absorption of nutrients. Even though it is incredibly successful, it comes with a higher risk of side effects, including starvation and nutritional deficiencies.
The type of weight-loss surgery that is most appropriate for your circumstances will determine you. Your surgeon will consider various criteria, including your body mass index, your eating habits, any other health conditions you may have, past surgeries you may have had, and the risks associated with each procedure.
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