What is metabolic surgery?
Metabolic surgery is a term used for weight-loss treatments and procedures performed specifically to treat type 2 diabetes. Can Hastanesi is a metabolic surgery center in İzmir; if you would like information about the cost of metabolic surgery, please visit our website.
How does it differ from obesity surgery or sleeve gastrectomy?
Metabolic surgery also includes more complex obesity operations, including sleeve gastrectomy.
Who is metabolic surgery for?
Patients who meet the following criteria are suitable for metabolic surgery:
- Patients with type 2 diabetes and a body mass index > 40,
- Patients with a body mass index between 35 and 40 whose blood sugar cannot be controlled despite medication and lifestyle changes,
- Patients with type 2 diabetes and a body mass index between 30 and 35 whose blood sugar cannot be controlled with medical treatment, including insulin.
How does metabolic surgery work?
In general, obesity operations achieve weight loss through 2 different mechanisms. In one group of operations, the volume of the stomach is reduced; these are “restrictive” operations. In another group, the digestive tract is rearranged to reduce the absorption of food; these are “malabsorptive” operations. Most operations make use of both mechanisms. In addition, the hormonal changes that occur after both types of operation also help control diabetes.
What are the results of metabolic surgery?
Depending on the type of operation, the success rate of metabolic surgery ranges from 80% to 98%. This means your blood sugar will be easier to control, you will need less medication and you may even no longer need medication at all.
In addition, problems such as high blood pressure, sleep apnea syndrome, fatty liver, joint pain and gastro-esophageal reflux improve. In the long term, your risk of heart disease and cancer decreases.
What are the risks of metabolic surgery?
The risks of surgery increase with the complexity of the procedure. Risks can be divided into those related to the operation itself and those that arise in the long term.
Risks after surgery:
- Serious bleeding,
- Infection,
- Problems related to anesthesia,
- Embolism (blood clots),
- Breathing problems,
- Leakage from the anastomosis or staple line,
- Death (very rare).
Long-term risks:
- Bowel obstruction,
- Dumping syndrome (a condition with diarrhea, hot flashes, flushing, nausea or vomiting),
- Gallstones,
- Hernias,
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia),
- Malnutrition,
- Ulcers,
- Vomiting,
- Acid reflux,
- Need for a second operation (revision or other operations),
- Death (rare).
Is surgery enough?
Obesity and diabetes are chronic diseases. Before surgery, patients are assessed by the relevant specialists in terms of lifestyle, eating habits, endocrine problems and psychiatric disorders, and receive the treatment they need. To increase the chance of success after surgery, follow-up and treatment must continue under the supervision of a general surgeon, a dietitian and an endocrinologist. At İzmir Özel Can Hastanesi, 1 year of free dietitian support is provided after the operation.
At İzmir Özel Can Hastanesi and Salihli Özel Can Hastanesi, morbid obesity is diagnosed and treated by specialist physicians in general surgery, endocrinology and psychiatry who have extensive scientific knowledge, skill and experience in their fields, and the most appropriate treatment approaches are applied. Please contact us for information and appointments.
References
1-Brunicardi FC, et al., eds. The surgical management of obesity. In: Schwartz’s Principles of Surgery. 11th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Education; 2019.
2- Bariatric surgery procedures. American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. https://asmbs.org/patients/bariatric-surgery-procedures.