Weight loss surgery is often confused with another popular procedure called liposuction. When most people think of weight loss surgery, they think of a surgery that immediately gets rid of excess weight; however, that’s not what weight loss surgeries do.
So what is the difference between liposuction and gastric bypass? And which one is right for you?
Liposuction vs Gastric Bypass
What Is Liposuction?
Liposuction is a cosmetic procedure that is used to remove excess body fat from a specific spot on the body. The way liposuction is performed is by making a small incision on the targeted area, then a small tube is inserted to vacuum up the liquefied fat deposits.
There are several different ways to do this, but the most common way is to inject a saline solution into the targeted area and vacuum the fat and fluids out of the area.
Liposuction is NOT a weight loss surgery. It’s not used for returning a patient to a healthy weight; instead, it’s used for improving a person’s appearance. This procedure is recommended for people who are at a reasonably healthy weight (if not slightly overweight) who want to remove fat from a particular area.
What Is Gastric Bypass?
Gastric bypass, on the other hand, is a bariatric procedure that aims to do two things. First, it aims to restrict the amount of food that a patient can consume in one sitting. Second, it aims to reduce the amount of calories that the patient can absorb from the food they eat.
The procedure is done by creating a small pouch in the stomach and sewing it so that the effective stomach volume is about 20% of its original size. Then, the stomach pouch is rerouted to a lower area of the small intestine in order to reduce the absorption of fats.
Overeating after gastric bypass is difficult, but it does happen (particularly after the 1 year mark). Learn about it here!
Why Are Gastric Bypass & Liposuction Different?
Liposuction is not a weight loss procedure, and it’s not effective for long-term weight loss. It’s found that most of the weight lost during liposuction eventually comes back, with new fat cells being created and distributed around the body.
Gastric bypass, on the other hand, is not a cosmetic procedure and does not aid in reducing fat from a particular area. Instead, it aims to reduce overall body fat and keep the patient at a healthy weight for years after the surgery.
ALO Bariatrics offers gastric bypass in Mexico, which can save a considerable amount of money compared to getting the procedure in the US. Schedule a consultation today!
