Surgery Information & Options

Today's bariatric surgeons have access to a substantial body of clinical data to help them determine which weight loss surgeries should be used and why. Today, there are two basic approaches that weight loss surgery takes to achieve change:

Restrictive Procedures

The theory is simple: When you feel full, you are more likely to have reduced feelings of hunger and will no longer feel deprived. Restrictive weight loss surgery works by reducing the amount of food consumed at one time. It does not, however, interfere with the normal digestion of food. Some examples are:

Swedish Adjustable Gastric Banding SAGB

A low-pressure soft band is placed around the upper most part of the stomach. The gastric band forms the stomach into two sections, with a small opening between the sections allowing food to pass through. Food collects quickly in the small upper section causing patients to feel full faster and eat less. More information and animations about gastric banding SAGB...

Vertical Banded Gastroplasty VBG

In this procedure the upper stomach near the esophageus is stapled vertically for about 6cm to create a smaller stomach pouch. The outlet from the pouch is restricted by a band or ring that slows the emptying of the food and thus creates the feeling of fullness. More information and illustrations about Vertical banded gastroplasty VBG...

Malabsorptive Procedures

Malabsorptive procedures alter digestion, thus causing the food to be poorly digested and incompletely absorbed so that it is eliminated in the stool. In addition to restriction, these techniques involve the use of surgical staples to create a bypass of the small intestine, thus limiting the absorption of calories. Some examples are:

Biliopancreatic Diversion BPD

BPD removes approximately 3/4 of the stomach to produce both restriction of food intake and reduction of acid output. The small intestine is then divided with one end attached to the stomach pouch to create what is called an "alimentary limb." All the food moves through this segment, however, not much is absorbed. More information and illustrations about Biliopancreatic diversion BPD.

Gastric Bypass Roux-en-Y RYGBP

In this procedure, stapling creates a small (15 to 20cc) stomach pouch. The remainder of the stomach is not removed, but is completely stapled shut and divided from the stomach pouch. The outlet from this newly formed pouch empties directly into the lower portion of the jejunum, thus bypassing calorie absorption. More information and illustrations of gastric bypass Roux-en-Y.