Bariatric Surgery Procedures

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Choosing to undergo weight loss surgery is a serious decision. If a person's excess weight is causing serious medical and emotional problems, surgery can be a hopeful avenue to a healthier life. Gastric bypass and gastric banding are two types of surgical procedures for patients with weight loss goals of 75 pounds or more.

Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Roux-en-Y

Al Roker and Carnie Wilson are a couple of the well-known patients who successfully controlled their weight with gastric bypass surgery. Most appropriate for those who need to lose more than 100 pounds, the procedure is a power tool in the journey to successful weight loss.

In gastric bypass surgery, stapling is used to create a small stomach pouch at the very top of the stomach. This restricts the amount of food you can eat. The pouch is then connected directly to a portion of the intestine. This bypass of the main part of the stomach allows less absorption of calories, and less stimulation of the hormones that drive the appetite.

"Our patients lose up to 85 percent of the excess body weight and maintain that weight loss with gastric bypass," says Dr. Shieh.

Gastric Banding

Gastric banding is the recommended procedure for qualified patients who wish to lose between 50 to 100 pounds. A silicone band is surgically placed around the stomach to create a pouch in the upper stomach, with a small opening leading to the lower stomach. This limits the amount of food a person can eat at one time. The patient feels full sooner and the same sense of fullness lasts a long time.

The risk for gastric banding surgery is lower that that of any other type of bariatric surgery. Other benefits are it is reversible and requires a short hospital stay of less than 24 hours. The system also can be adjusted to change the rate of weight loss. Patients lose more gradually with the procedure, and tend to continue shedding pounds over time. Our patients lose 65 percent of their excess body weight and keep it off.

There are two types of gastric bands currently on the market. The first is Lap Band made by Allergan, and the second is the Realize Band made by Ethicon-Johnson & Johnson. Both bands constrict the stomach and can be inflated or deflated by using saline. There are slight differences between the two and it is the patients’ decision as to which one they choose.

Dr. Moses K. Shieh is the first surgeon to perform and also the only bariatric surgeon to offer the gastric banding surgery using the Realize Band in Southwest Florida.

Click here to view a short video presentation on Lap-Band.

For more information, visit the Lap-Band Web site by clicking the logo below.

Click here to view a short video presentation on Realize Band.

For more information, visit RealizeBand.com.

Gastric Sleeve or Sleeve Gastrectomy

In a sleeve gastrectomy, the stomach is altered by stapling so that it is in the shape of a banana. The stomach itself will only hold about 15 percent of food that it would normally hold. The excess part of the stomach that is not needed is removed. With this procedure, the stomach opening stays in tact and malabsorbtion is less likely. A good candidate for this surgery is someone who has health risks and could not undergo the full bypass or other radical forms of weight loss surgery. Another candidate may be someone who couldn’t manage to attend the follow up appointments that are needed with the gastric band.

The gastric sleeve is the newest of procedures to assist in weight loss. It is not as radical as the gastric bypass. Also, the amount of weight loss initially is quicker than the gastric band.

Bariatric Center located at Lee Memorial Hospital