Although there are a variety of weight loss surgical procedures, the most common are Adjustable Gastric Banding, Gastric Bypass and Gastric Sleeve.
Adjustable Gastric Banding is where a silicone, inflatable band is placed laproscopically around the top portion of the patient’s stomach creating a small pouch that reduces food consumption. The band is inserted through several very small incisions (usually 0.5 to 1.5 centimeters). This procedure does not require stomach stapling or re-routing of the intestines.
Gastric Bypass surgery creates a small pouch at the top of the stomach using surgical staples. The new stomach area is then connected directly to the middle portion of the small intestine. This procedure can be done through a large incision in the abdomen or laparoscopically using several very small incisions (usually 0.5 to 1.5 centimeters).
Gastric Sleeve can also be referred to as sleeve gastrectomy, vertical sleeve gastrectomy, tube gastrectomy and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. The surgeon removes approximately 85% of the patient’s stomach so that it resembles a tube or sleeve and then the opening is closed using staples. Sometimes this procedure is followed by gastric bypass after a person has lost a substantial amount of weight. This is referred to as a “staged procedure.”