Weight loss surgery

If your body mass index (BMI) indicates obesity, an aggressive approach to weight loss may be in your best interest, because obesity carries with it a multitude of health implications, including:

• Increased chance of premature death
• Risk of diabetes, heart disease and stroke
• Increased risk of developing cancer
• Limited mobility and activities
• Increased healthcare costs for you

Weight loss surgery can help you negate or avoid these issues.

Bariatric surgery, or weight loss surgery, is an effective treatment option for patients dealing with the disease of obesity. It is also useful for treating obesity-related conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, cholesterol problems and joint pain.

In general, bariatric surgery reduces the size of the stomach and can alter the route your food takes when you eat it. That, in turn, affects the amount of food you are able to eat, the way you metabolize and digest food and when your brain tells you that you are "full." This typically results in significant weight loss and improvements in conditions associated with obesity.

It is important to understand, before you ever undergo weight loss surgery, that obesity is not "cured" by surgery alone. Bariatric surgery is most effective when you also combine it with a commitment to proper eating habits and an active lifestyle. Since the procedures also affect the way your body absorbs nutrients from food, we also strongly recommend you add vitamin supplements to your health and wellness routine after you have had bariatric surgery.

We offer multiple surgical options, all of which are minimally invasive, and we thoroughly evaluate your individual needs to decide which surgery option is best for you.

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

Gastric bypass surgery involves two components:

• A small stomach pouch is created by separating the top of your stomach from the rest of the stomach, resulting in a new stomach pouch that is about the size of an egg in capacity.
• The new stomach pouch is connected directly to the small intestine so that the majority of your stomach and the beginning portion of the small intestine is bypassed by the food.

Sleeve gastrectomy

The sleeve gastrectomy involves actually removing of a portion of your stomach, resulting in a tubular or “banana shaped” stomach that has approximately 20% of the capacity of the original stomach. Nothing is done to the small intestines, and food passes through your stomach and intestines as before.

Duodenal switch procedure

Similar to the gastric bypass, the duodenal switch procedure involves two components:

• A tubular stomach is created by removing a portion of the stomach as in the sleeve gastrectomy.
• Next an intestinal bypass is performed so that the food travels through only a portion (typically less than 40 percent) of the small intestine. Additionally, the bile and pancreatic enzymes are also diverted so that they do not mix with the food until the last portion of the small intestine.

Revisional surgery may be an option to pursue if you have already had bariatric surgery and are suffering from complications. Revisions are complex. If you may need this type of surgery, our surgical staff will review all of your relevant medical information and discuss the potential risks and benefits with you so that you are fully informed of your options.

Removal of laparoscopic adjustable gastric bands (LAGB)

If you have had the LAGB procedure but need it removed because you're experiencing complications or not losing weight, we can help. When we remove the band, we typically perform another weight loss procedure at the same time. Commonly this is the gastric bypass or the sleeve gastrectomy. This helps you continue to benefit from bariatric surgery.