Sleeve gastrectomy surgery helps plump woman to reduce weight

Chennai, Feb 15 (UNI) A sleeve gastrectomy operation changed the life of 28-year-old Bhuvaneswari, who weighted 180 kg.

Due to her obesity, she could not realise her dream of becoming a doctor in spite of scoring good marks in the entrance exams. Instead, she studied for an M A Degree and became a teacher at Calicut University after obtaining a B Ed Degree.

Bhuvaneswari could not teach the students as she was unable to stand, prompting her to give up the job. More importantly, she was not able to get married, forcing her to remain indoors.

However, after, eminent Bariatric surgeon D Suresh of Amma Hospitals in Chennai, performed a sleeve gastrectomy on her problems seemed to end. The procedure performed under general anaesthesia, lasted for five to six hours, her five to seven litre capacity was reduced to just 500 ml. This means that she cannot take more than half or one idly in her reals.

The surgery was performed by a four-member team headed by Dr Suresh on February four and Bhuvaneswari would be discharged tomorrow.

Talking to reporters here today, Dr Suresh, flanked by a bubbling Bhuvaneswari, said after the surgery she had reduced about 15 kg weight.

''In the next six months, her weight will come down to 75-80 kgs and she will become slim,'' he said.

''I am now able to stand, walk and climb the stairs with ease.

This surgery is all the more important as I have been aspiring to become Air Hostess,'' a beaming Bhuvaneswari said.

Observing that by 2010, India would be having a large number of obese people in the world, Dr Suresh appealed to the Tamil Nadu and Central governments to declare obesity as a disease, which would lead to Bariatric surgeries being covered by Insurance schemes. ''This will benefit a large number of obese people, who are yearning to become slim,'' he added.

UNI GV ROY AE KP1725