Fatty liver? How Bariatric Surgery Can Help
Metabolic surgery which is popularly known as bariatric surgery is an effective option for treating advanced fatty liver disease, where medications and lifestyle modifications might be ineffective in most cases.
If you are diagnosed with fatty liver disease, it might be time to think about having bariatric surgery as a way to lose weight and get rid of liver fat deposits.
Experts classified fatty liver disease into two different types. If your liver possesses fat deposits and is without any liver damage, this condition is known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Whereas the other type nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is defined as — the liver having fat deposits along with symptoms of inflammation and damage of liver cells.
Fatty liver is a progressive disease and Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an advanced stage of this condition. Eventually, it may even lead to the cause of liver fibrosis (scarring of the tissue).
According to research, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is one of the most prevalent types of chronic liver disease, that affects a large number of people worldwide. Approximately, it is affecting 55% of people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and 75% of those fighting with obesity.
If the condition is not treated, it will result in liver failure and liver cancer. In many countries, it is one of the main reasons for liver transplants. NASH also raises the chance of developing heart disease.
How Bariatric Surgery Can Help?
However, in many studies, it is proven that bariatric surgery (weight-loss surgery) can reverse Fatty Liver, and improves general health & quality of life. This procedure not only improves fatty liver conditions, but it has also shown dramatic improvement in Diabetes, Hypertension, Sleep apnea, Degenerative joint disease, Heartburn etc.
Though there are different types of bariatric surgeries, gastric bypass and gastric sleeve (or sleeve gastrectomy) are the most effective and commonly used bariatric procedures to treat fatty liver problems. They can be performed either laparoscopically or robotically through small incisions.
In 2020, experts came up with a new study that non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can be effectively treated with Bariatric surgery (weight loss). The study was even published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.
Another randomized study was completed in Italy. The theme of the trial is to compare the effectiveness of bariatric surgery versus lifestyle modifications in 288 patients.
Investigations conducted before and after surgical procedures have demonstrated that surgery proves to be a more successful approach in healing liver inflammation completely and preventing cellular damage, which are the main features of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Remarkably, this beneficial effect was observed without any aggravation of liver fibrosis within one year following the surgery.
Furthermore, the surgery helped to improve at least one stage of liver fibrosis compared to other treatment options. The two surgical techniques appeared to improve NASH in an equivalent manner.
According to researchers, the capacity of surgery to regulate and potentially improve fibrosis related to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) holds significant clinical importance. This is because fibrosis is the primary indicator of liver complications, as well as adverse cardiovascular effects and mortality rates in people suffering from NASH.
Bariatric surgery continues to stand as the most effective treatment option for obesity, which is also a remarkable option to decrease the chances of cirrhosis progression and mitigate the necessity for a liver transplant.
Although both surgical procedures showed similar improvements in treating non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). But the gastric bypass group seemed to be a little more effective in improving other complications like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors linked to NAFLD/NASH compared to the gastric sleeve procedure.
If you are obese and suffering from fatty liver problems, consult Dr. V Pareek, one of the best bariatric surgeons in Hyderabad. You can get complete information on bariatric surgery and how it’s gonna help you with your NAFLD/NASH problem. For an appointment call +91 91777-77715 or visit Appointment Booking.
