Bariatric surgery is a treatment option for people living with morbid obesity—especially for those who have not experienced long-term weight loss success through other means. Often referred to as weight loss surgery, bariatric surgery has transformed the health and lives of more than 800,000 people in the past six years.²⁶

Bariatric surgery is the clinical term for several different procedures. The procedures use one or both of two approaches to help patients lose weight and improve or resolve co-morbid conditions .

During these procedures, the surgeon creates a small stomach pouch, which limits the amount of food patients can eat. The smaller stomach pouch fills quickly, which helps patients feel satisfied with less food.

During these procedures, the surgeon reroutes the small intestine so that food skips a portion of it. The small intestine absorbs calories and nutrients from food, and avoiding part of it means that some calories and nutrients are not absorbed.

Surgeons rarely perform strictly malabsorptive procedures. Most procedures that use malabsorption also use restriction.

Certain procedures such as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery uses a combination of restriction and malabsorption. During this procedure, the surgeon creates a small pouch. The surgeon then attaches a Y-shaped section of the small intestine directly to the stomach pouch. This allows food to bypass a large portion of the small intestine, which absorbs calories and nutrients. The smaller stomach pouch causes patients to feel fuller sooner and eat less food; bypassing a portion of the small intestine means the patient’s body absorbs fewer calories.

These different methods work to help patients lose excess weight, lower their BMI , and transform their health by resolving or improving co-morbid conditions . Bariatric surgery has many benefits that can lead to a healthier, higher quality of life. It also has certain risks.

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COMPARING GASTRIC BYPASS AND GASTRIC BANDING

GASTRIC BYPASS

GASTRIC BANDING

SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY

BPD/DS

MINIMALLY INVASIVE VERSUS OPEN