Bariatric surgery or weight loss surgery is a group of procedures done to induce weight loss by reducing the amount of food the stomach can hold. It involves surgical procedures that rearrange the digestive tract. Given how drastic bariatric surgery is, doctors typically recommend it only for patients who meet certain criteria. To begin with, candidates have to have a BMI of at least 40, which means they have to be at least 100 pounds overweight. Candidates with a BMI of at least 35 will also be accepted if they have at least one serious condition related to their obesity such as heart disease, sleep apnea, or Type II diabetes. The three most commonly performed bariatric surgeries in the United States are the sleeve gastrectomy (gastric sleeve surgery), gastric bypass, and lap band surgery.

What Does the Sleeve Gastrectomy Involve?

During the sleeve gastrectomy, the surgeon will remove about 80 percent of the patient’s stomach, leaving a tube that looks like a banana. Unlike many other bariatric surgery procedures, it does not involve rerouting or rearranging the patient’s intestines. It is also a fairly straightforward procedure.

What is the Gastric Bypass?

The gastric bypass is both a restrictive and malabsorptive procedure. The surgeon reconstructs the gastric pouch and small intestines. Gastric bypass not only restricts the amount of food that the patient can eat, but it also helps suppress their appetite.

What is Lap Band Surgery?

The LAP Band or gastric band is another form of bariatric surgery approved by the FDA in 2001 for use in weight loss surgery. The surgeon places it around the patient’s stomach near the esophagus. They then connect a tube and port to the band and insert the port beneath the patient’s skin. The surgeon will use the port to adjust the band by periodically adding or withdrawing a solution. The band works by slowing the patient’s digestion and making them feel full longer.

To learn more about bariatric surgery, schedule a consultation at New Life Surgical Associates in Jacksonville, FL. Contact us today to arrange your appointment.