Preparing Yourself For Surgical Weight Loss

Surgery for weight loss is a serious undertaking and should be considered only as your last resort of losing weight. Bariatric surgery presents an opportunity for those who remain severely obese after trying non-surgical approaches and have an obesity-related disease.

Are You a Good Candidate for Weight Loss Surgery?

If you have been on and off the weight loss wagon and you feel like your efforts are not doing any good, you may want to consider weight loss surgeries that can help you lose weight and stay healthy.  However, the decision is not as easy as it seems. There are a lot of important things that you need to bear in mind and it really pays to be educated about these things. 

Gastric bypass surgery is also known as “restrictive” surgical procedure. It works by restricting the amount of food that your stomach can hold. It is considered as one of the most successful surgeries, especially when it is accompanied by a permanent lifelong change in your diet and lifestyle. The success of the surgery or any safe weight loss programs in Westchase FL basically depends on the person in the long run. 

Weight loss surgery is a serious step toward overcoming obesity, but not everybody is a good candidate for the procedure. This is due to underlying medical conditions or lifestyle habits, such as smoking. You have to consider your lifestyle and the responsibilities that you will have in your hand after the surgery. The following are some indications or qualifications that will make you a good candidate for weight loss surgery. 

ü  You must be at the right age. 

Although there's no specific age limit for gastric bypass surgery, patients that are over 64 years old must be referred by a doctor and he has to be in good health. The risks that are associated with surgery can get higher for older people and it also remains controversial for people under age 18.

ü  You must be at a healthy psychological status.

You are not a good candidate if you presently suffer binge-eating disorder, substance abuse, depression, anxiety disorders and issues related to childhood sexual abuse. This is because mental conditions like these can contribute to obesity and can even make your case worse. It will also be difficult for you to maintain the health benefits of gastric bypass surgery. Your doctor will postpone the surgery to make sure that your condition is properly treated and managed.

ü  You must have a good medical condition. 

Your medications, the amount of alcohol you drink and whether you smoke or not will be evaluated. The results of these tests and examinations will determine if you can be a good candidate for weight loss surgery.

How Bariatric Surgery Can Save You?

Bariatric surgery continues to benefit many people that are unfortunately suffering from obesity. The last thing that you’ll want is to put your health and body at greater risks. That is why you have to do the best that you can so you can finally get away from your health problems. Bariatric surgery in Tampa can be the answer that you have long been waiting for. 

Current studies say that bariatric surgery patients are living longer lives than morbidly obese individuals. If you’re going to compare it with a person of normal weight, a 25-year-old obese man has a reduced life span and can expect a loss of about 12 years of life. By reducing excess body weight, this promising procedure can improve the lifespan of individuals. Bariatric surgery can reduce the risk of death by 89 percent with an absolute mortality reduction of 5.49 percent. The following are obesity-related health conditions that may be improved or resolved with bariatric surgery. 

• Type 2 diabetes

• High blood pressure/heart disease

• Dyslipidemia (lipid metabolism abnormalities)

• Osteoarthritis of weight-bearing joints

• Depression

• Sleep apnea/respiratory problems

• Gastroesophageal reflux/heartburn

• Infertility

• Urinary stress incontinence

• Menstrual irregularities

• Asthma

• Skin breakdown

• Swollen legs/skin ulcers

• Extremity venous stasis

Clearly, the most significantadvantageof such fat loss method is losing weight and feeling better. But it is also wise to know that patients who undergo bariatric surgery have significantly reduced rates of developing cancer, cardiovascular diseases, endocrinological disorders, infectious diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, psychiatric disorders, and pulmonary disorders.

Bariatric surgery is a major one so you need to make sure that you are with a reputable team that you can trust. Complications can be minimized but at certain times, they cannot be avoided. You also have to know that bariatric surgery is not cosmetic surgery. It is also not similar to liposuction and it does not involve eliminating fat by suction or surgery. If you have decided to undergo bariatric surgery, you have to get yourself ready to commit to long-term lifestyle changes. That includes diet and exercise. 

Staying healthy is a long term goal that you have to watch. It is a responsibility to yourself so you have to make sure that you get things right. Bariatric surgery can bring the change that you have been waiting for.Weight loss surgery works. But it's a serious stuff — both physically and emotionally so be sure to prepare yourself and your budget too. 

Bariatric Surgery and Things That You Need to Know

If you think that you can already consider yourself obese, you've got to be educated about the best ways to get back in great shape. You have to start working on having a better diet and be sure that you get it balanced. You may also learn about how bariatric surgery in Tampa can help you lose weight and lowers the risk of medical problems associated with obesity. Bariatric surgery contributes to weight loss in two focal ways. 

 Restriction

The purpose of the surgery is to somehow reduce the amount of food the stomach can hold, which confines the number of calories you can eat. 

 Malabsorption

The purpose of the surgery is to condense or bypass some parts of the small intestine. This is going to reduce the amount of calories and nutrients that the body absorbs. 

There are four common types of weight-loss surgery. These are the following:

• Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

• Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding

• Sleeve gastrectomy

• Duodenal switch with biliopancreatic diversion

Bariatric surgery is a serious method so it is very important that you choose a credible team that you should trust. You also have to be responsible. There are important things that you should mind. Patients are advised to pay attention to the following after the surgery. 

1. Pay attention to signals.

You need to examine yourself very well, like if there are signs of fullness that you experience. It may also be some sort of chest discomfort, pressure or pain. If you notice some of these, the best thing that you have to do is to stop eating or drinking instantly. The very last thing that you should do is to ignore these signals. All you just have to do is to listen to your body. And of course, you need to be sure that you eat the right kinds of food at the right amount. 

2. Eat slowly. 

The slower you eat, the more time your body has to distinguish and send a signal of fullness to your brain, alerting you to stop before "overeating. 

3. Eat right.

You have to be very careful in choosing the right kinds of food that you should eat. You have to stay away from certain foods like cauliflower or broccoli. These can cause abdominal pain due to gas, bloating and cramping. If ever you experience this, you can try to eliminate the food or try preparing the food in a different way. 

Weight Loss and Weight Loss Surgeries

The thought of becoming overweight kills many people and it is no joke. If you feel that you are already overweight, you need to act right away. Do not wait for things to get worse. You’ve got to do something and you have to do things fast. You may need to change your diet for the better. Being disciplined is one important thing that you should do. You may also rely on safe and effective procedures. Surgeries that can help you get back in great shape, like gastric bypass is a good option that you should consider. Weight loss surgeries can make some necessary changes to your digestive system so you have to make sure that you are aware about the responsibilities that you actually owe yourself after the procedure. Also, you have to make sure that you get the surgery from a responsible team that you can trust.

Why Should You Consider Bariatric Surgery?

Bariatric surgery is a kind of weight loss surgery that includes various kinds of procedures. You’ll have to expect that the size of your stomach will be reduced. This type of weight loss surgery can be risky so you need to make sure that you are with bariatric surgeons that deserve your trust.

The case of obesity is growing in number with a lot of people that are becoming reckless in the way they live their lives. They live sedentary lives and do not eat right. Considering bariatric surgery is not a bad thing but you need to make sure that you are physically, mentally and socially prepared for it. You need to be responsible after the procedure in order to prevent medical issues that may arise. You have to comply with the guidelines that your surgeon has set. Failure to do so may cause unwanted results. Make sure that your body gets all the nutrients that it needs. You may seek help from a nutritionist to make sure that you are on the right track.

Weight loss is a serious thing that you should deal with. Make sure that you do so in the safest way possible. Staying fit and healthy is a responsibility that you owe yourself so you need to make sure that you do all that you can to make things right. There are a lot of surgical options that you can try. Make sure that you pick only the best. And remember, weight loss is a long term goal that you need to know by heart.

Losing Weight Through an Effective Exercise Program

Exercise has several benefits to the body especially to cardiovascular endurance. It helps to lower down blood pressure and cholesterol level benefiting the whole cardiovascular system. Choosing the right exercise regimen can also be helpful in losing weight. A good weight loss program will include healthy diet and plenty of exercise. A good combination of the two will be indispensable in the whole course of the weight loss program.

Exercise can be more effective if its intensity is done on a progressive way. Beginning an exercise program with few simple steps can take it to a more comprehensive and more effective way. One of the major problems encountered in taking an exercise program is the inconsistency. Many people have lots of enthusiasm in the beginning of an exercise program but they usually lose it in the middle of the course. A successful exercise program consists of strong foundation of reasonable goals, solid planning strategies, and healthy objectives. Weight loss Mary Florida provides great recommendations on exercise planning and other regimens on losing weight.

Initially, you should set up your weight loss exercise program. Make sure that you are healthy enough to begin an exercise. Visit your physician for his recommendations on the matter of providing you the appropriate exercise regimen for your age. You also have to secure exercise equipment that you will use during the activity. You don’t have to spend a lot you just have to buy the essential ones for your routine. Knowing your specific goals, both short term and long term, will help in the success of your program.

Starting with easy exercise will be effective when you decide to do it on a long term basis. It may be simple steps in the beginning but this will help you as you progress with your routine. You can complete one easy workout for a period of 5-7 days. Together with exercise, you should be able watch your diet as this will greatly help in your weight loss plan. In this way, you can effectively avoid medical weight loss which is quite more expensive than attending a regular exercise program.

Planning a comprehensive schedule would be essential to complete your routine every week. You have to be faithful for your schedule to develop discipline on your part. You can take one day each week in creating your weekly exercise plan. This will save a lot of time in the long run.

Protein Intake: An Adjunct To Effective Weight Loss

Weight loss is considered as one of the most aimed health goals nowadays. With the prevalence of poor lifestyle habits and the influence of the media, obesity is one of the leading health problems in the country. With this condition, many serious comorbidities can occur that can greatly hamper one’s health. Several weight loss regimens including bariatric surgery are utilized to reduce weight and help in the overall maintenance of healthy and ideal weight for age. Reducing weight can serve great benefits to your health as well as increasing your self-esteem and overall wellness.

According to a research, protein intake may help in weight loss as it helps build lean muscle thereby reducing the fat content on the tissues. Initially, you should know how much protein you should eat on a daily basis. This would help you to adjust your diet and other components of your meal. It would also dictate what lean proteins recipes you can add to your daily diet. Scientists suggest that increasing protein intake can effectively help by improving body composition and boosting metabolism. A result from a study concludes that people who eat 25-30% of their calories from lean protein lost more body fat and that it helps them burn more calories at rest. This would, to some extent, help in the effort to reduce weight thereby preventing any other affordable weightloss surgery.

Some people may ask about the possibility of protein intake to achieve the goal of losing body fat. But this is not the usual way as most of protein required by the body is already included in the daily diet. Adding protein to your diet through supplement is not necessary. Usually, foods with protein are also high in vitamins and other minerals that are greatly essential to your daily body requirement. This would make protein supplementation to be excluded as it will only provide you protein without other vitamins and minerals. Protein-rich foods like lentils considerable amount of vitamins and minerals as well as fiber. You should be able to choose the foods that have high content of protein and other nutrients.

To achieve great on your protein diet try to incorporate the important nutrients on every meal. Lean dairy products, lean ground turkey, lentils and green leafy vegetables are a good source of dietary protein. Utilizing healthy cooking techniques can help you to reduce the amount of added calories.

Several weight loss regimens can effectively help you to achieve your goal. You may make it through alteration of your diet or through different weight loss procedures. Improving your ideal weight can take the way on focusing on your protein intake which may not only help but will also supply your daily body needs of other nutrients and minerals.

Dr. Birkedal's Surgical Services

What's good about minimally invasive surgery is that it targets the root-cause of the problem without having to be bloody. Check out Dr. Christian Birkedal's ground breaking surgical treatments.

The Importance of Exercise to Bariatric Patients

Gastric bypass in Leesburg, Florida is one of the most common types of bariatric surgery. More and more people are relying on the procedure to be healthier and fitter. If you think that you have gone too fat or worse, you are already considered as obese, it must be the best time for you to do something about your case. You can have the gastric bypass procedure for the treatment of your specific case. But there are a lot of factors that you need to bear in mind. And for sure, before you will undergo the procedure, your bariatric surgeon in Ocala, Fl will discuss important things to you and some of these factors have something to do with being able to maintain a good kind of exercise. 

After undergoing bariatric surgery, it is very important that you will be able to maintain a good kind of exercise. Exercise is very important for patients that have gone through bariatric surgery for it will be a great help in the process of losing weight and achieving the optimum health benefits. Aside from all these, exercise can also improve the ability to do regular activities and can enhance your blood circulation too. It is also an excellent way of decreasing your chances of suffering bone loss. 

Before starting an exercise routine after the surgery, you have to discuss the specific activity that you have in mind with your doctor. You need to get his approval to make sure that nothing shall go wrong after the surgery. Mild exercises are ideal days after the weight loss surgery. You can have stretching exercises to prevent muscles and joint problems. After a month, you can already do weight training, swimming or bicycling. It is just very important that you are following a good kind of exercise to enjoy the long lasting benefits of the procedure.

 Of course, you have to make sure that you are already physically ready before undergoing the procedure. You need to plan your daily and weekly schedule. You need to choose the activity that you enjoy most and then keep your focus on those. You also need to find an activity that you really love so you can enjoy your journey more. You can even ask your closest friends and family members to do these activities with you. A little motivation will certainly go a long way. 

Is Weight Loss Surgery Right For You?

If you are unhappy with your body shape, you may consider weight loss surgery. But just like the many aspects and considerations in our lives, weight loss surgeries have significant benefits and drawbacks too. You may also need to understand that weight loss surgery is not a cure for obesity. It is better to consider it as a helpful tool to defeat obesity. Let us take a closer look on the pros and cons of the procedure to help you decide if weight loss surgery is good for you or not. It is an important commitment so you need to be extra careful. 

Pros and Cons of Weight Loss Surgery 

Weight loss surgery is not an easy fix and most importantly, it does not work like magic. It is a medical procedure that may have a lot of advantages and disadvantages too. Doctors in weight loss advice patients to know the possibilities first before making a decision. 

The most important benefit that you can get from the surgery is of course, weight loss. You may also save yourself from negative conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea and severe arthritis. But with these benefits, serious risks may also be anticipated. These risks may include band erosion, bleeding ulcer, blood clot in the lungs, breakdown of the staple line and worst, heart attack. 

Your Life after the Weight Loss Surgery

Weight loss surgeries, just like the other kinds of surgeries require recovery time. The time for recovery will depend on the patient’s ability to adjust to his new lifestyle. For the most favorable results, surgeons recommend the following:

1. Eat smart. 

Make sure that you eat nutritious foods. You have to eat the right kinds in right amount. 

2. Exercise 

Exercise regularly but do not do heavy exercises right after the surgery. You have to wait until you are fully recovered. 

3. Do follow-ups with your doctor. 

A follow up with your doctor will monitor your progress. This will also keep you on track and prevent serious risks. 

If you are thinking about a change in your lifestyle, weight loss surgery can be right for you. Just make sure that you are mentally, emotionally and physically prepared as you take on the challenge. The decision and the life that you will be living after the surgery is challenging so make sure you are all set up to get the best results. 

Flattening Big Belly Through Nutritious Food

Do you love drinking beer, eating while watching your favorite movie and taking a long nap at noon time? If you cannot avoid drinking that gives you a bloated feeling then at least try eating healthy foods. Flatten your belly through this nutritious recipe or you'll end up on an instant bariatric surgery.

What to Do to Shed Off Extra Weight?

Losing weight takes more patience to be successful but if you are looking for an instant, safe way to shed off your unwanted fat then you may try bariatric surgery. There are a lot of testimonials from online sources showing how this type of treatment has changed their lives. Benefits include increased self-esteem and confidence.

How Does Gastric Bypass Surgery Work?

More and more people are becoming aware of gastric bypass surgical operation, as a method of dealing with problematic obesity levels. As a result, there's more information available about the subject and there are more stories publicly available about people who have undergone the procedure, for various reasons. It's important to always keep in mind that gastric bypass surgery is a major surgical operation. You will need to discuss it thoroughly with your doctor before you even begin to seriously consider whether to undergo the procedure.

Again, the surgery involved here is rather serious. It will involve making physical changes to your stomach as well as your small intestine. Consider what will happen to your stomach. During the operation, the surgeon will take your existing stomach and split it into two parts. Staples will be used in order to perform this change. Once the surgeon is through, your stomach will end up with an upper area and a lower area. The upper area will be smaller compared to the one below it. This upper area is where the food that you eat will end up. By doing this, the surgeon has drastically reduced the amount of food volume that your stomach can physically handle.

That's not the end of it though. The second part of the operation is where the bypass part comes in. The surgeon will take your small intestine and detach it from where it usually connects to your stomach. She will instead create an opening in the new upper area of your stomach and connect the small intestine there. This results in a drastic change to the way your digestion system works. Now, food will enter the upper part of your stomach and from there will proceed directly into your small intestine. The lower section of your stomach becomes effectively bypassed.

One way all this surgery is done is for the doctor to make a large incision in your belly. This allows her access to all the needed areas of your stomach, intestine and the surrounding area. However, the large cut and the accompanying strain on your internal organs will tend to result in a longer period of recovery. Another way for the surgery to take place is through the use of specially designed tools, equipment and a camera which is introduced into your body using a number of smaller slices to your belly. This laparoscopic surgery will tend to reduce the recovery time, and you will have to deal with smaller incisions and scars.

Important Points to Consider Regarding Weight Loss Surgery

Some people consider surgery for weight loss or have it recommended to them, because of issues with obesity that can already result in poor health or a problematic standard of living. Weight loss surgery offers a way to address or deal with obesity, but in a more straightforward way which doesn't require as much time or lifestyle change in order for it to work. That said, this type of medical procedure still comes with its share of risks and potential adverse effects, so it isn't a decision that should be taken lightly.

Many types of surgeries work on a person by creating a physical or other limit to the volume of food that the person can eat. So instead of that person having the usual volume within which to accept and digest food, that volume is significantly limited so that even if the patient wishes to continue eating the way he did before, this becomes a much more difficult thing to do.

One thing to consider carefully is the fact that this surgery affects a very important part of how your body functions. Whether the surgery makes your stomach smaller, or whether it makes it less likely that you will digest or absorb food, your digestive process will never be the same. You will have to get used to the fact that you will be seeing your doctor regularly, maybe for the rest of your life, in order to monitor whether your new level of digestion and absorption is proving to be sufficient for a healthy life.

You will also have to remember that while the surgery makes it more difficult to regain weight, this isn't impossible. Don't expect to be able to live an unhealthy life and get away with it, because you've had the surgery. Get used to the idea that you will still be expected to make healthy lifestyle changes anyway, involving the kind of food you eat and the amount of activity you do. Otherwise, over time you may find that weight will continue to be a problem. You can ask your doctor about these and other concerns when you discuss your surgical options. Usually, if surgery is being advised, the patient has already reached the point where the good that the surgery could accomplish already outweighs the risks involved.

What Happens After Having a Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy?

Does immediate relief from pain come after the removal of a person’s gall bladder? The answer is yes. The pain is caused by the gall stones found in the ill gall bladder organ.

Cholecystectomy is defined as the surgery in which the gallbladder is removed.It is treatment commonly done on patients with gallbladder conditions or manifesting symptoms of gall stones. Symptoms include extreme pain in the upper belly or the epigastric area that spreads to the right upper back of your shoulder blade area nausea, loss of appetite, fever, and dark-colored urine, yellowing of the skin, light-colored stool, chills and fever. Mostly considered an out-patient surgery, meaning patients can be discharged the same day as the surgery or the following day. It is one of the most common operations performed in surgery today. In the illustration above, you will see the following body parts:

1. Liver

2. Gallbladder 

3. Bile duct

4. Bile duct enters duodenum

5. Stomach

Cholecystectomy can be performed through a single incision or what people call now as “key-hole” surgery. This barely leaves a scar after the procedure. The great news is, the pain is gone plus it does not take long to recover from laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This is mostly considered an out-patient surgery, wherein the patient can leave the hospital on the same day or the following day.

According to medical practitioners, both laparoscopic and open cholecystectomies are generally safe procedures with a low risk of complications. The most common complication is infection at the incision site in some cases. So do you really need a gall bladder? The organ is said to be useful but not essential. A person can live normally after the gall bladder removal operation. Now what happens after?

After the removal of the gallbladder, a pathological examination should immediately be performed on the organ to confirm diagnoses and check for cancer. A follow-up procedure should be done if cancer is confirmed, to remove parts of the liver and lymph nodes as required. There is however what they call “post cholecystectomy syndrome” or PCS, this minority of the patient population statistically from 5% to 40% develop symptoms like persistent pain and gastrointestinal distress in the upper right abdomen.

Minor symptoms after surgery are gas problems and a bit of soreness. Some people though who have had their gall bladder removed experience diarrhea or bloating. You will need to consult your doctor regularly if these symptoms persist. Also it is important to note that a special kind of diet will need to be enforced. Mostly people are back to work in two week time with medical wounds perfectly healed, leaving an almost invincible scar. A survey done on laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients mentioned the enormous relief they felt after the surgery and extreme recommendation to everyone who has been diagnosed with gall stones in their system. They noted how their lives are so much better after the procedure. See your doctor today.

Biography: Dr. Christian Birkedal, MD

Dr. Christian L. Birkedal MD, Board certified General Surgeon, at 42 years old is a Clinical Associate Professor and teaches at Daytona Beach Community College’s branch of the Florida State University School of Medicine. He studied medicine at the University Of Alabama School Of Medicine and received Health grades Honor Roll. He also took residency at the Baptist Health System who values continuous education hence, is also an undergraduate of the Florida State University.

A distinguished medical presenter and speaker, Dr. Birkedal is also a writer who has been published in textbook chapters of Emedicine Textbook of Surgery.

Doctor Birkedal’s career includes serving as the Medical Director of the Wound Treatment Center and the Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Capitol Regional Medical Center, there after becoming an established Medical Surgeon at the Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center. Dr. Christian L. Birkedal, MD is famous for weight loss surgery, otherwise known as bariatric surgery.

This is a type of procedure recommended to be performed on people who are obese. Weight loss is achieved by removing a portion of the stomach, biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch or sleeve gastrectomy, or by reducing the size of the stomach with an implanted medical device, also called gastric banding. Another procedure done to induce weight loss is the resecting and re-routing of the small intestine to a small stomach pouch or gastric bypass surgery.

Dr. Birkedal performs procedures such as Abscess Incision and Drainage, gallbladder surgery, abdominal surgery, gastric sleeve, adrenalectomy, adult breast cancer consultation, amputations, cholecystectomy, breast surgery, appendectomy, gastrectomy, foreign body removal, benign tumors, bowel resection, bowel surgery, breast biopsies, breast cancer, exploratory surgery, breast surgery, burn care, cancer, excisions of skin lesions, colon resection, colon cancer, breast lumpectomy, Crohn’s disease and axillary lymph node dissection, excisions of benign skin lesions, foreign body removal, ganglion of wrist and bariatric surgery (weight loss surgery) among others.

Dr. Birkedal Treats conditions such as spider veins and varicose veins. Both men and women can develop spider veins as age advances. Women though are more likely to develop spider veins rather than men. Exposure to sun and wind make men more prone to spider veins. Spider veins are identified as blue-purple colored veins that materialize under the skin but are noticeably seen from outside view on the face, legs and thighs. Mostly hereditary abnormalities in the veins, spider veins cause embarrassment due to its noticeable bruise like color. Varicose veins though are more painful compared to spider veins. Both are problems caused by blood circulation issues. Certain causes of spider veins are pregnancy, heredity, obesity, oral contraceptives, aging, hormonal issues, smoking, and occupation, sun and wind exposure and alcohol intake.
Dr. Christian L. Birkedal’soffice is located at 305 Memorial Medical Parkway Suite 205, Daytona Beach, Florida 32117. According to a recent survey, Dr. Birkedal’s clinic was given feedback with their experience and scored 4.2 out of 5 for likelihood of recommending to family and friends. Visit his clinic today.

3 Important Things that You Must Know About Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric surgery is a surgical operation done to lose weight. This is performed on people who are obese and whose weight does not go down despite dieting and exercise. Here are three important things that you must know about this type of surgery. 

• Bariatric surgery or weight loss surgery is performed to help obese people lose weight. Most of the time, this is only resorted to when all other means were tried and failed like working out, dieting, and changing one’s lifestyle. Having health problems caused by obesity such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, and impaired glucose torance, is also one reason to undergo this treatment.  Although modern medical technology has made this kind of operation safe, still, one cannot disregard the possibility of experiencing side effects like blood clots and infections.

• There are several kinds of surgery performed to lose weight. These are sleeve gastrectomy, gastric banding, and gastric bypass surgery. In gastric banding, the size of the stomach is made smaller by implantation of a medical device. The reduced size of the stomach leads to reduction of food intake since it easily gets full. This could lead to reduced weight. Sleeve gastrectomy refers to the removal of some parts of the stomach, which also leads to the reduction of its size. With the use of a safe and effective minimally invasive surgery, only a small incision is made on the belly button. Because the wound is small, only a little amount of blood is lost and the risk of the wound getting infected is very nil. It also heals quickly, resulting to short hospital stay and less expense.  Gastric bypass surgery involves redirecting the small intestines to a stomach pouch that is smaller. A person who eats very little would feel that he is already full and stop eating. This results to weight loss. 

• Surgery performed to achieve weight loss is known to have long-term effect and the person seldom regain his original weight. This proves it as an effective weight reduction strategy.  However, these procedures might have complications, resulting to more serious ailments and conditions.

For people who are obese, minimally invasive operation of the stomach is a source of hope. Performed by an expert, this surgical treatment could mean a better life because they would be safe from other serious illnesses that obesity brings. With proper surgery used, complications that could be fatal would be avoided and an obese person would have the chance to experience a better life.

4 Reasons to Employ Minimally Invasive Surgery to Remove Spider Veins

Spider veins or varicose veins refer to veins that have enlarged and are painful. These are usually found on the legs, although varicose veins may occur in other parts of the body.  Both men and women could have this problem but the effect is worse for women than men. Women hate the bulging veins in their legs because they make their legs unappealing.  In addition, they could also present some health risks.

There are several treatments recommended to reduce enlargement of the vein. Natural treatments include elevating the leg, regular exercise, wearing of special stockings, and applications of some topical gel, which helps reduce inflammation or swelling. However, these treatments are only temporary.  There are surgical procedures such as stripping of the saphenous veins but this could have some complications like deep vein thrombosis and the possibility of infection.

Nowadays, there is a surgical procedure that can help people get rid of the enlargement of their veins safely and this is known as minimally invasive surgery.  One of the experts in this field is Dr. Birkedal, whose training and practice involve using catheter to treat varicose veins. There are five reasons to use this type of surgery when dealing with varicose veins.

First, it is safe. The incision made is very small and after the catheter has been inserted and laser shot is delivered into the vein, the tiny wound is closed. There is no danger of infection of the wound.  The patient does not experience too much, which eliminates trauma.

Second, it is cost effective because there is no need to get admitted to a hospital. The procedure can be done in the doctor’s office. The doctor makes a tiny incision, inserts a catheter and delivers a laser shot, which causes the vein to collapse. The incision is closed and blood is rerouted to other veins.

Third, recovery is quick. After the treatment, the patient could go home right away. Hospitalization and other medications are not necessary.

Fourth, it has no side effects. Since the wound is very small, there is no possibility that it will get infected, such as what happens when stripping and more invasive surgery is performed.  Blood clots may form in the neighboring veins but they could be treated using blood thinners.

With this minimally invasive treatment, sufferers from varicose veins would find a solution to their problem with less expense and time.

Reflecting a Different New You

“Don’t judge a book by its cover”; “First impression lasts”, both are well known sayings, but as you can see, it’s very contradicting. But how could anyone not judge according to ‘looks’ when the first impression would begin upon laying one’s eyes on a thing? Humans are by nature that way.  We usually judge people by the outside and not by the inside appearance. That’s the very reason why physical appearance is a matter of utmost importance for many.  Some become too much vain just to look their best.  Sad to say, that those people who were not gifted with physical beauty and those who were once attractive physically suffer from depression which often leads to eating disorder or binge-eating.  Result?  Obesity!

Before they notice, they have already acquired the illness.  In fact, studies show that last 2009, 23% of UK population are obese; while in USA, 34% has been recorded.  Even countries tagged as the “3rd World” have high possibilities to develop obesity.  Some obese persons have decided to lose weight to gain self confidence. But due to the illness itself, loosing weight has become a problem for them. According to some researches made to find cure for obesity, patients who were treated for Gastric Ulcer or Gastric Cancer had reduced weight drastically when they underwent surgery. They applied the same medical surgery to other obese patients for verification purposes and found good results too.  After years of practice and observation, they came up with a solution.  The top procedures that were performed as well as the percentage of weight loss are the following:

v  Gastric Bypass Surgery  --  72%

v  Gastric Sleeve Surgery   --  68%

v  Gastric Band Surgery     --   56%

These procedures are related to bariatric surgery.  A person eligible for this surgery should discuss the matter together with a bariatric surgeon.  A patient must be fully aware about the pros and cons of the various procedures before undergoing, during and after the surgery.  These procedures are not only an option to cure obesity, but it can also help resolve weight related problems such as:

v  Type II Diabetes

v  Hypertension

v  Asthma

v  Arthritis

v  Sleep Apnea

After considering all the important issues you have to know from your Doctor, you will definitely be sure of the decision you are about to make.  Reflect yourself as a different new ‘you’!  Regain the self confidence you have been dreaming of!  Make changes for the better and start a new, healthy and beautiful life!

Visualizing a New You!

How do you view yourself?  Some view themselves as how others view them.  Are you one of them?  I once became a victim of that mind set.  I had tried to become what they wanted to see in me.  But it never brought me true happiness!  Instead it brought me anxieties and deep emotional depression on keeping up with their expectations all the time. As time passed by, I learned that to be truly happy, it must start deep within ‘you’.  If you’re happy from inside, you can glow and shine!

But what if you’re still unhappy about yourself according to your perspective?  Then it is time to change.  Look at yourself in the mirror.  Be true to yourself and ask:

“Is this really what I wanted to be?”

“Is there something wrong with the way I look?”

“Have I done everything within my reach to improve myself?”

“If I change for the better, what would my motives be?”

If being overweight is your problem, try every option available.  Indulge yourself in traditional weight loss programs such as dieting and exercising.  Live an active and healthy lifestyle.  But if traditional methods fail after months of trying, maybe it’s time for you to consider the last option – surgery.  One of the most associated procedures to weight loss is bariatric surgery.  It limits the food and nutrition intake of the body.  Among these procedures, gastric bypass is most recommended by doctors.   Generally, it has fewer complications and risks than other weight-loss surgeries.   You may expect an average loss of 61% of excess weight.  After surgery, you will notice some improvements in your health. Also, other related illnesses due to obesity including diabetes, severe arthritis, obstructive sleep apnea and high blood pressure, will gradually be controlled until healed.  According to the researches made, obese people who undergo this weight loss surgery have improved the quality of their life and have lived much longer than equally obese people who did not undergo the surgery.

Good motivation is another factor to make this procedure successful. The best motivation should come from ‘yourself’. Choosing to undergo this kind of surgery requires a deep understanding and knowledge of the procedure.  Visualize a new ‘you’.  Accept the fact that you need to have a change.  Some centers are available which offer behavioral counseling before and after surgery to make the full transition possible: from the old and poor lifestyle into a new, active and healthy lifestyle - to make a new ‘you’!