Which Weight Loss Surgery is Right for Me?

If you have been researching the different weight loss surgeries available, you may find yourself confused by the many options. While there are less-common procedures in use, the three most popular surgeries are the lap-band, gastric sleeve, and gastric bypass. Exploring the pros and cons of each procedure, along with your doctor's recommendation, can help you decide which path makes the most sense for you.

Lap-Band Surgery

With a lap-band procedure, a flexible, inflatable tube is placed around the top of the stomach. This is done laparoscopically, meaning that it is carried out through small incisions. The band is then inflated, placing pressure on the stomach. People with lap-bands report that they feel fuller faster and stay satiated longer. This leads to less eating overall and causes weight loss.

However, there can be negative outcomes. If the band is made too tight, heartburn or vomiting is common. If the band is made too loose, the weight loss will not happen. At worst, the procedure will fail completely.

At best, the band will be adjusted to a comfortable level while still allowing for weight loss. Patients who do well with lap-band procedures are usually overweight or on the lower side of obesity. This procedure also has a shorter recovery period than sleeve or bypass surgeries.

Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Gastric sleeve surgery also has the advantage of being minimally invasive, as most surgeons opt to do it laparoscopically. This surgery permanently reduces the size of the stomach to about a quarter of its previous volume.

Patients will then feel less hunger and be able to feel full without eating so much. Weight loss is quick and steady, and there is not usually a problem with being unable to eat enough to meet nutritional needs. The negatives most commonly associated with gastric sleeves are nausea and vomiting. People who choose this procedure usually do so because they are too heavy for lap-band surgery but do not want the extreme restriction of a gastric bypass.

Gastric Bypass

This is the surgery most commonly performed on patients who are morbidly obese. During this surgery, a small pouch of stomach is made and attached directly to the lower intestine. The rest of the stomach is bypassed entirely. Considered the most radical weight loss surgery, this procedure is not offered to patients who have any possibility of losing weight by other means. Patients often choose this procedure due the radical weight loss it causes.

Knowing which weight loss surgery is right for you can be confusing. Be sure to talk to your doctor about all of the options available before you make a decision, and don't be afraid to read blogs or speak to those who have the surgery you are considering. No single surgery is right for everyone, so take your time and discover which one suits your needs and lifestyle.