Surgical Options for Weight Loss

The decision to have weight-loss surgery can only be made after educating yourself on the available options and the benefits and risks of each surgery.

Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy:

During the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, the surgeon removes about 80% of the stomach, including the part that makes the hunger hormones. The stomach is reduced to the size of a banana. This causes a feeling of fullness after eating a small amount of food. On average gastric sleeve patients will lose 60% of their excess body weight. Because you are not able to eat much food, you will need to take vitamin supplements the rest of your life.

Gastric Bypass: (Roux-en-Y)

During the gastric bypass surgery, a small pouch is created and separated from the rest of the stomach. The new pouch (stomach), which is about the size of an egg, is then attached to the lower portion of the small intestine. This pouch holds much less food and you feel full after eating only a few ounces of food. This reduces the number of calories and nutrients you can absorb from the food you eat. On average, gastric bypass patients will lose approximately 70% of their excess body weight. Because you are not able to eat much food, you will need to take vitamin supplements for the rest of your life.