Overview:

Bariatric surgery is a procedure used to improve health through weight loss. These procedures include either restricting the amount of food the stomach can hold, inducing malabsorption of nutrients, or by a combination of both. Bariatric surgeries should only be performed if a patient has severe obesity or health complications that make traditional weight loss impossible.

Types of Bariatric Surgery:

• Gastric Bypass
• Adjustable Gastric Band
• Sleeve Gastrectomy
• Duodenal Switch

Gastric Bypass:

There are two parts to gastric bypass procedures. First, the surgeon creates a small stomach pouch by isolating the top of the stomach from the bottom. Second, the small intestine is cut and attached to the lower part of the new stomach pouch. After this is done, food will bypass most of the stomach, essentially shrinking the stomach.

Adjustable Gastric Band:

During this procedure, the surgeon implements an inflatable band that is placed around the top portion of the stomach creating a pouch above the band. This separates the stomach much like the Gastric Bypass procedure allowing the patient to have a smaller appetite. The size of the pouch can be controlled by the band through a small device left inside the body. However, this means that multiple follow-up visits are necessary in order to monitor the band.

Sleeve Gastrectomy:

The Sleeve Gastrectomy involves removing most of the patients stomach (approximately 80 percent), leaving only a banana-shaped section.  This newly created pouch has a significantly smaller volume compared to the previous stomach. This procedure, along with restricting the amount of food the stomach can hold, has a hidden benefit. Favorable changes seem to happen in the gut hormones that suppress hunger, reduce appetite, and improve satiety.

Duodenal Switch:

This procedure also has two parts. The first being removal of most of the stomach similar to the Sleeve Gastrectomy. The second includes bypassing a large amount of the small intestine. This allows a decrease in the absorption of calories and nutrients (particularly protein and fat).

Dr. Stone and  Dr. Sufficool will evaluate your symptoms and work with you to develop a treatment plan that fits you. Please contact us to schedule an appointment.