WLS surgery, or weight loss surgery, is a category of surgical operations intended to help people with obesity lose weight. Bariatric surgery, as it is also known, involves modifying the digestive system to regulate how many calories a person can consume and absorb, and can also reduce hunger signals that travel from the digestive system to the brain. There are various surgical procedures that fall under the category of WLS, including:
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Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: This procedure involves a surgeon cutting across the top of the stomach to create a walnut-sized pouch. The surgeon then attaches the pouch to the small intestine so that food bypasses the stomach and enters the small intestine directly.
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Sleeve gastrectomy: In this procedure, the surgeon removes a large portion of the stomach to create a tubelike sleeve.
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Adjustable gastric banding: A surgeon places an inflatable band around the top part of the stomach, creating a small pouch with an adjustable opening.
The specifics of the surgery depend on the individual situation and the type of weight-loss surgery a person has. WLS is only one part of an overall treatment plan, which also includes nutrition guidelines, exercise, and mental health care.
