Surgical Weight Loss Options

There are three types of bariatric surgery, also called weight loss surgery. All three options can be performed laparoscopically (a minimally invasive approach).

1. Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy – During sleeve gastrectomy, your surgeon will remove up to 80 percent of your stomach, including the part that makes a hunger-causing hormone. Your remaining stomach is a long, vertical sleeve that holds smaller amounts of food.
2. Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass – Gastric bypass makes your stomach smaller and changes the path your food travels. Your body will absorb smaller amounts of calories and nutrients. During surgery, your doctor connects a small pouch from your stomach to the lower part of your small intestine.
3. Adjustable Gastric Band – Also known as LAP-BAND, this procedure is performed by placing a silicone band around the top part of the stomach, separating it into a small section and a larger section.

Vertical sleeve gastrectomy and the adjustable gastric band work by restricting the amount of food in the stomach. Gastric bypass changes the path that food takes, limiting the amount of nutrients your body can take in.

Which procedure is right for you?

All procedures have their advantages and disadvantages, including recovery time, expected weight loss, whether or not they can be reversed, how well they can resolve health issues, and potential for complications. For more information on the different procedures and their advantages and disadvantages, download our comparison chart or watch our patient education videos.

Your surgeon will review your options with you and recommend the best procedure.

Weight-loss surgery is the most effective way to lose weight and keep it off, but it may not be the best option for everyone. For those who don’t qualify for surgery, are unable to have surgery, or do not want to have surgery, we offer medical weight management.