Cosmetic surgery versus bariatric surgery - which is better for you?

Bariatric surgery is different from Cosmetic surgery in many ways.

Cosmetic surgery or liposuction is a procedure through which fat is removed from different parts of the body. It makes use of a suction device which is inserted through small incisions made on the desired part of the body. Bariatric surgery isunlike cosmetic surgery as it’s performed on the stomach or the intestine. It is meant for obese people and mainly works by reducing the appetite. In other words, cosmetic surgery is for body contouring, while bariatric surgery is for weight loss. 

Bariatric surgery or weight loss surgery

Bariatric surgeries such as Gastric Sleeve or Gastric Bypass are all intended to address the cause of excess fat, rather than simply removing fat. It can achieve long-term weight loss and is the best option for patients with a BMI of 30 or over. Under the mantle of bariatric surgery, popularly referred to as weight loss surgery, there are several procedures; all of them are performed on people who suffer from obesity and do not have any other solution to shed those pounds.

1.Weight loss is achieved by reducing the size of the stomach with a gastric band.

2. Or through removal of a portion of the stomach (sleeve gastrectomy or biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch).

3. Or by resecting and re-routing the small intestine to a small stomach pouch (gastric bypass surgery).

It is usually the procedure of choice for those individuals who are heavily overweight and all other treatment options have failed.

Dieting and exercise are always the first attempt at losing body weight naturally.

Cosmetic surgery or liposuction

Cosmetic surgery on the other hand is a procedure intended to remove existing fat, but does not address the issues causing the patient’s weight gain. While you may initially lose weight or inches with liposuction it is not a permanent weight loss solution. 

It is more commonly recommended for individuals who are not struggling with obesity, but rather have areas of stubborn fat that just won’t melt away with diet and exercise. It is a procedure which usually appeals to women to rid themselves of unsightly bulges around the middle area.

This procedure is not a cure-all for cellulitis or sagging skin. This process involves :

1. The injection of large amounts of fluid into the layer between the muscle and fat layers. Friction with this device also enables increased breaking up of fat cells.

2. The fat cells are then suctioned out of the body and removed.

This type of surgery usually takes about two to four hours to complete, depending on the size and location of the body area being treated.

Cosmetic surgery is not the treatment of choice for those that are very overweight but for those that are in generally good health and condition. 

Physicians will typically use this procedure for those that are within 30% of their ideal body weight and the individuals have no other co morbid complications.

Bariatric surgery should only be considered for those that are severely obese, mostly due to genetic and medical conditions. The surgery is mainly performed by the Bariatric surgeons.

Cosmetic surgery is an “instant gratification” surgery, but is not intended to treat patients who suffer from obesity. If you are seriously overweight or obese, bariatric surgery or weight loss surgery, Gastric Sleeve, or Gastric Bypass may help you lose excess weight and keep it off.
To know more about your specific condition, please visit a Bariatic Surgeon in a trusted hospital close to you.