There are different types of weight loss surgeries you can get if you are planning on getting a procedure done that will help you lose weight. However, before you focus your attention on choosing the type of weight loss surgery your surgeon will decide on whether you need a laparoscopic bariatric surgery or an open one.
Both of these weight loss surgery methods are complete opposites of one another in terms of the actual procedure as well as their benefits. Weight loss clinics such as LI Obesity specialize in laparoscopic surgery and also perform open weight loss surgery depending upon the needs of the patient.
However, there might be individuals that have been planning on getting a weight loss procedure or have been suggested either of the two procedures and aren’t sure what are the differences between them.
So to help anyone who wants to know more about laparoscopic and open weight loss surgeries we have created this article and we suggest you take the time out to read it.
Key differences between Laparoscopic and open bariatric surgery as per Long Island weight loss specialists
In Long Island and around the US weight-loss surgeries are performed by specialized surgeons that have trained in performing weight loss procedures. As per expert weight loss surgeons in LI here are some key differences between laparoscopic and open weight loss procedures:
Laparoscopic weight loss surgery: Laparoscopic weight loss surgery is the more modern weight loss procedure of the two types mentioned above and it is also minimally invasive. When you go for this weight loss procedure the size of incisions that have to be made are very small. In most cases, the incisions are no bigger than 5mm in length and they can be easily closed after the procedure.
The purpose of these incisions is to insert a laparoscope inside your abdomen along with surgical tools without opening up a major part of your abdomen. The laparoscope contains a camera that projects the images from inside the abdomen onto a screen so that your surgeon can perform the necessary changes to your stomach.
Since the size of the incision made in laparoscopic surgery is small the recovery period after this form of surgery is also shorter compared to open weight loss surgery. A step up from manual minimally invasive weight loss surgery is robotic laparoscopic bariatric surgery which gives a whole new meaning to safe weight loss.
Open weight loss surgery: Open weight loss surgery is considered the traditional weight loss surgery technique and it has been around longer than laparoscopic weight loss surgery. As the name suggests this procedure involves opening up your abdomen to expose the stomach.
The size of the incision made during open surgery ranges between 3 to 6 inches in length and surgical tools are used directly without involving any additional cameras or screens. Since the incision made during this form of weight loss surgery is longer the recovery period after the procedure also lasts longer compared to minimally invasive surgery.
Most patients try to avoid open weight loss surgery because it is not only painful to recover from but the scarring it leaves behind is also quite significant. In most cases, patients have to undergo additional cosmetic procedures to get rid of the scarring left by open surgery.
When is open weight loss surgery needed?
Considering the longer recovery period and cosmetic side effects associated with open weight loss surgery one has to wonder why this procedure still exists. There are certain situations when laparoscopic surgery is simply not possible and patients have to opt for open weight loss surgery.
These situations include when a patient has an extremely high BMI, existing scar tissue, and the presence of certain health conditions that make laparoscopic surgery a risk factor.
We hope this article helped you in distinguishing between the two weight-loss surgeries. For more information get in touch with a long island weight loss doctor
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