Bariatric surgery Dr Patrick NOEL

Obesity Surgery or Bariatric Surgery

Against excess weight, obesity surgery is considered a truly effective treatment. In this discipline, Dr. Patrick Noël and his multidisciplinary team have extensive experience in the field.

However, it is important to remember that surgery is a means to lose weight; you are the main actor in this weight loss journey, and the sustainability and effectiveness depend on the following elements:

Several elements are fundamental to successfully carry out your project:

- A sincere desire to lose a significant amount of weight.
- Having undergone well-followed diets that have failed.
- Being ready to completely change dietary habits.
- Being prepared to engage in more sustained and regular physical activity.
- Agreeing to follow up with a nutritionist of your choice.

Obesity is increasing, and problems are evolving.

The main complications are:

- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Cholesterol
- Cardiovascular disorders
- Sleep apnea

Not to mention mechanical complications due to the pressure of weight on the joints, breathing difficulties, and sleep apnea, which are common during obesity.

Obesity affects more and more young people.

The most frequent cancer risks in obese individuals, particularly in men, are:

- Esophagus
- Thyroid
- Colon
- Kidney

In women, the risks of cancer are:

- Breast cancer
- Uterine cancer

Obesity surgery is currently an effective treatment for obesity. This surgery significantly reduces the risk of mortality. It is also important to know that obesity begins from a BMI of 30.

There are two main types of obesity surgery:

1. Restrictive surgery, which involves reducing the size of the stomach.
   - Sleeve
   - BariClip
   - Gastric plication
   - Gastric banding

2. Malabsorptive surgery, which involves diverting the digestive system.
   - Mini bypass
   - Classic bypass

Regarding BariClip, it is proposed to enable surgery when there is significant obesity and weight loss is necessary to access the stomach. Its effect is temporary.

Am I a candidate for obesity surgery?

Obesity is defined as excess body fat, quantified by the body mass index (BMI).

How do I calculate my BMI?

It is obtained by dividing your weight by your height squared: BMI = your weight (in kg) / [your height x your height] (in meters). For example: If you measure 1.65 meters and weigh 80 kg, the calculation is 80 divided by (1.65×1.65), resulting in a BMI of 29.4.

When the body mass index is between 30 and 34, it is considered moderate obesity; between 35 and 39 is severe obesity, and when the index is 40 or higher, it is morbid obesity.

Selection criteria to be a candidate for obesity surgery include:

- Age between 18 and 60 years (for adolescents, consult).
- Stable obesity for more than 5 years.
- Failures of other treatments for at least one year.
- Severe somatic complications.
- Motivated and well-informed patients.
- No alcohol or drug dependence.
- No endocrine pathology.

The surgical solution can only be considered if all these criteria are met.

What techniques are practiced for obesity surgery?

There are several techniques used for obesity surgery, such as gastric banding, sleeve, and gastric plication. Each patient must undergo an individual evaluation. Ultimately, the best treatment for the patient depends on various selection criteria carefully examined by obesity specialists.

Obesity surgery, or bariatric surgery, is not a "small" operation devoid of risks or complications. It is aimed at obese individuals for whom traditional treatments, diets, medical follow-up, have failed. Usually, it is a straightforward procedure, with brief hospitalization and rapid return to activity.

It is not a "miracle" solution replacing your willpower. On the contrary, it requires active, attentive, prolonged collaboration from you, for which medical, psychological support is often essential. As a result, the success rate, significant and lasting weight loss being observed in 70 to 80% of cases operated on.

After obesity treatment, reconstructive surgery?

After significant weight loss and following a diet, gastric banding, bypass, or sleeve, it will be necessary to consider removing the excess skin, which will be like oversized clothing. This excess skin will be removed by a specialist in body reconstruction, notably in the body lift.

The body lift is an operation that removes excess skin and fat from the mid-third of the body in a single operation, leaving only a belt-like scar. This intervention can be better visualized by imagining that a strip of skin 15 to 40 cm high is removed from all around the body, like pulling up pants.