Weight Loss Surgeries

Weight loss surgeries come in several forms. The most visible of late (with all the TV commercials) is lap band surgery, but there are other weight loss surgery options that you should explore before deciding which is right for you.

Types of Weight Loss Surgery

Bariatrics is the science of weight loss, and bariatric surgery is all about using surgery for weight loss.

Before you read further, keep this in mind: weight loss surgery is performed on patients who have a hundred or more pounds to lose, and have failed at every weight loss plan. It is not for someone who has 50 pounds to lose, but is otherwise in good health.

That being said, there are several types of weight loss surgery for you to consider. Here’s an overview of the types and links to the pages that have more in-depth information about each.

Adjustable Lap Band Surgery

Lap band surgery has been very visible in advertisements lately. It’s a much less invasive surgery than the other weight loss surgeries, which is likely part of its appeal. It restricts the amount of food that can be in the stomach at a meal.

Here is some more information and a video on laparoscopic band surgery.

Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric bypass surgery is where your stomach is bypassed and instead attached to another portion of your small intestines. Because your stomach is mostly bypassed by the food you eat, it cuts down on the calorie absorption.

This is a major surgery; here’s a video of bariatric gastric bypass surgery, along with some of the risks and rewards.

Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy

Although it has been around for awhile for other purposes, vertical sleeve gastrectomy is fairly new on the weight loss surgery front. This is another that usually falls into the major surgery category. However, for those who qualify, it can also be performed laparoscopically.

For additional information and a video, check out the vertical sleeve gastrectomy surgery post.

Duodenal Switch Weight Loss Surgery

This is the newest of the weight loss surgeries. Duodenal switch has some exciting short-term results, although it’s still too new to have much in the way of long term results yet.

Risks for Weight Loss Surgeries

Before you even talk to a surgeon, you need to know the bariatric surgery risks. Serious complications to bariatric surgery aren’t very common, but they do exist and you should know them.

Here’s information about the risks for gastric bypass and lap band surgeries.