During Bariactric Surgery, Can a Doctor Remove Visceral Fat?

Question

When I was 6'2", 175 lbs, and very active, I had high cholesterol and more visceral fat than others.  Now years later, I am 275 lbs and looking into the lap band. I wish there were a way to remove the fat near the liver since some researchers have shown this to related to high cholesterol.  My doctor thinks if I lose 100 lbs, my cholesterol level will be in a safe zone.  Well, I was 175 lbs and it was 250.

Christopher S. Cobourn, MD · Answer

No visceral fat is close to, or part of the abdominal organs and it is not safe or effective to try to remove that fat.  Weight loss due to caloric restriction that is achieved with the Lap Band is the most effective way to get rid of this fat.

Shawn Garber, MD, FACS, FASMBS · Answer

Surgeons usually do not remove any fat at the time of weight loss surgery.  With weight loss the fat in the liver will go away.  That is usually one of the first places patients lose weight after surgery. Visceral fat is not related to high cholesterol.  Weight loss surgery can often help lower cholesterol levels as well.

Daniel J. Rosen, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

I love this question because visceral fats a hot issue. It's metabolically active, it's hormonally active fat, and there's actually been some studies looking into this. 
I think first let's discuss what visceral fat is, its fat on the inside of your abdomen not on the outside under your skin. And it's really split into two different types of fat. One is the fat that wraps around your intestines or the blood supply to your intestines, that’s called the Mesenteric, the other is called the Omentum, and that’s the fatty drape that covers the intestines. Technically removing the fat that encases the intestine or the Mesiteri, would be very dangerous because you could damage the blood supply to the intestine and therefore it wouldn't be advisable. Removing the Omentum or the fatty drape that covers the intestine is surgically technical. 
There have been a few small studies that looked at whether removing that fat would improve diabetes control in the people, and they found that there was no difference whether that fat was in the patient or had been surgically removed in terms of blood sugar control. It may slightly improve the contour of your abdomen to be removed, but it has to be weighed against the added surgical risk of removing that amount of fatty tissue and how to get it out once it's been surgically separated from its attachment especially if you're doing Laparoscopy and dealing with small holes, would be a technical challenge. 
In my opinion, it's not something that I would recommend to a patient. I think if you're losing weight from bariatric surgery, you will lose weight from that omentum tissue just like you will lose weight from other places. So to surgically remove it at the beginning I just don't see it as being worth the risk.

Michael F. Sedrak, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

it is not recommended to remove visceral fat during lap band surgery. this will decrease with the weight loss after surgery.  also, the visceral fat serves physiologic functions and you do not want any of it removed without a good reason!

During Bariactric Surgery, Can a Doctor Remove Visceral Fat?

Answers (4)

Answer: Lap band and visceral fat removal

Answer: Lap band and visceral fat removal

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During Bariactric Surgery, Can a Doctor Remove Visceral Fat?

Answers (4)

Answer: Lap band and visceral fat removal

Answer: Lap band and visceral fat removal

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Everything you need to know about Lap Band

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.