So, you’ve decided that you need weight loss surgery – now what? The next step is to determine what kind of bariatric surgery is best for your situation. The main types of weight loss surgery are gastric band, gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and duodenal switch. Of course, you should talk to a doctor to figure out which procedure is best for your specific case, but here are some of the common criteria for each type of surgery. 

Gastric sleeve

The Sleeve gastrectomy transforms the stomach into a long, narrow tube, which resembles the shape of a shirtsleeve, so that patients become full much faster. The levels of hormones in the body related to feeling hungry and full are also altered following this operation, which contributes to the weight loss. Approximately 80 percent of the stomach is removed in this procedure. The average patient who undergoes a sleeve gastrectomy loses 60-65 percent of their excess body weight. Because the results of the gastric sleeve have been similar to those of the gastric bypass, but with fewer long-term risks and side effects, it has become the most commonly performed operation for obesity in the United States and worldwide.

Gastric bypass

Gastric bypass is one of the oldest and most common types of weight loss surgery. This procedure turns the stomach into a small pouch, reducing the amount of food patients eat. It also reroutes the intestines to create malabsorption, where fewer calories are absorbed from foods than normal. Gastric bypass causes patients to lose up to 65 percent or more of their excess body weight. Patients who would benefit from gastric bypass surgery versus a different kind of bariatric surgery usually have diabetes and/ or severe gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Gastric band

Gastric banding is the least invasive and extreme of the weight loss surgery options. In this procedure, a band is placed around the upper stomach to reduce the amount of food the patient eats. The size of the band and the amount of restriction it causes can be altered when needed. People with gastric bands can sometimes lose up to half of their excess weight, though the results can vary greatly. Patients considering the gastric band need to be willing to visit their surgeon often to get the band readjusted to its ideal tightness to maximize the chances of optimal weight loss results.

Duodenal switch

A duodenal switch combines sleeve gastrectomy with an intestinal bypass procedure. Like the gastric sleeve procedure, it turns the stomach into a small sleeve, thereby reducing the amount of food eaten. The second part of the surgery creates malabsorption by reattaching the intestines in such a way that two-thirds of them are bypassed. Patients lose anywhere from 60 to 80 percent of their excess body weight from a duodenal switch, but the risk of nutritional and vitamin deficiencies is greater when compared to other weight loss operations.

The Best Bariatric Care in California

‍BASS Bariatric Surgery Center and Dr. Brian T. Chin offers some of the best bariatric care in northern California. Our team is ready to make you as comfortable as possible during your recovery from your surgery. If you are interested in gastric bypass surgery and want to know more, contact our expert bariatric surgeons to find out if this surgery is right for you.