Obesity is a growing problem in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of adults in the U.S. are obese. In most cases, people who are morbidly obese (meaning people who have a body mass index over 40) do not respond well to lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise. Bariatric surgery is a proven tool that can help these patients lose weight and keep it off.
As obesity rates continue to rise, so have the number of people who choose bariatric surgery. Each year, more than 196,000 patients undergo bariatric surgery to help them lose weight and reclaim their health.
If you are considering weight loss surgery, it’s important to understand the various options available. What are the key differences in bariatric procedures, and how can you know which one is right for you?
Types of weight loss surgery
There are three primary weight loss surgery procedures performed in the U.S.: gastric bypass, gastric sleeve and lap band. The key difference between these surgeries is the mechanism they use to help the patient lose weight: restriction, malabsorption or a combination of both. Choosing the procedure that is right for you is in part determined by your individual needs, and you should make this decision with the help of your doctor.
Here are the basic definitions of each type of surgery available and the primary differences between each procedure.
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB)
Gastric bypass is a laparoscopic procedure during which a small stomach pouch is created and connected to the middle portion of the small intestine, “bypassing” the remainder of the stomach, along with the first portion of the small intestine. This procedure reduces the size of the stomach from about the size of a football to the size of a lemon, thereby limiting the volume of food that can be ingested and limiting intestinal absorption.
Gastric bypass is considered both a restrictive and malabsorptive operation. Due to the malabsorptive characteristics of gastric bypass, supplemental calcium, iron and vitamin B12 are necessary after surgery.
Gastric bypass has long been considered the “gold standard” of weight loss operations, although in recent years, advancements in the gastric sleeve procedure — particularly Dr. McCarty’s trademarked and patented Mini Sleeve operation — have decreased the popularity of gastric bypass.
On average, patients who choose gastric bypass surgery lose 70 to 80 percent of their excess body weight in the first year after surgery.
Sleeve gastrectomy
Also known as the gastric sleeve, this restrictive weight loss procedure has become the favored choice of bariatric patients in recent years. During this procedure, the size of the stomach is reduced to about 15 percent of its original size through the surgical removal of a large portion of the stomach. Because the volume of the stomach is significantly reduced, it restricts the amount of food the patient can consume. In addition, the portion of the stomach that produces the hunger hormone, ghrelin, is removed, resulting in reduced hunger. Gastric sleeve is a lower-risk surgery than gastric bypass, and the average patient will lose about 70 to 80 percent of their excess body weight.
As an innovator and leader in the bariatric field of surgery, Dr. Todd McCarty has further improved the gastric sleeve procedure with the invention of the McCarty Mini Sleeve. This procedure uses the natural entrances to the abdominal cavity, avoiding the many painful incisions required with standard laparoscopic gastric sleeve surgery. This technique results in fewer risks for complications, faster recovery times, few scars and no hospital stay.
Gastric banding
Gastric banding reduces the capacity of the stomach by placing an adjustable band around the stomach. The band is wrapped around the upper stomach, creating a small pouch, and is attached to a catheter so fluid can be injected to expand or fill the band as needed.
Because this procedure does not involve any cutting, stapling or intestinal rerouting, it has been a popular choice in weight loss surgery, though its popularity is fading due to innovations in the gastric sleeve procedure and the risk for potential complications from the gastric banding procedure.
It is, however, the only weight loss surgery that is completely reversible. Patients who choose gastric banding can expect to lose 30 to 40 percent of their excess body weight in the first year, and 60 to 65 percent in three to five years, if they are able to maintain a healthy diet without complications.
Surgical revisions
In some cases, patients who undergo bariatric surgery may not be satisfied with their results for any of a variety of reasons. In these cases, patients who have undergone a prior bariatric surgery have the option of surgical revision to help them get back on track and lose the weight.
If you are considering weight loss surgery, call McCarty Weight Loss Center today to schedule your appointment with Dr. Todd McCarty, a leader in bariatric surgery for more than 20 years. Dr. McCarty will help you choose the right procedure to help you lose the weight and keep it off for good.
