About Weight Loss Surgery
Weight loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery, is a proven method of achieving long-term weight loss in morbidly obese patients. The operation is not a cure. Rather, it is a “tool” that can help people who are ready to make the necessary lifestyle, behavioral and dietary changes to gain control of their health, improve their quality of life, and extend their expected life span.
What to ask your doctor:
3 Procedures to Choose From
The bariatric surgery team at Scott & White Memorial Hospital offers three minimally invasive bariatric surgical procedures:
Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band. In this reversible procedure, a band containing an inflatable silicon balloon is placed around your upper stomach to create a small pouch. This causes food to move more slowly into the lower stomach. As a result, the small stomach pouch will quickly fill when you eat, triggering the sensation of feeling full. Find out more.
Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass. The current standard by which other weight loss operations are measured. In this procedure, a small stomach pouch is created that bypasses a portion of the small intestine. This restricts the amount of food you can eat and the calories your body can absorb. Find out more.
Laparoscopic Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. In this procedure, the surgeon removes a large portion of your stomach. The smaller stomach limits the amount of food you can eat by making you feel full after eating small meals. Find out more.