Weight Loss Surgery Options and Revisions

All of the procedures discussed are endorsed by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and are excellent options to help you achieve healthy, long-term weight loss and improve medical conditions related to obesity. While all operations have risks, bariatric procedures performed at accredited centers are safe and have a low risk for complications. Successful bariatric surgery requires a team-based approach including your surgeon, dietitian, psychologist, nurse case manager, and obesity medicine specialist who will focus on taking you through each step of the journey. Patients will do better if they continue to eat healthy, engage in physical activity, keep their appointments with obesity medicine providers, and take vitamins and mineral supplements as instructed. Your bariatric care team will provide you with lifelong support to succeed and maintain a permanent healthy lifestyle including changes to your diet and regular physical activity. Most patients need periodic blood work testing to monitor vitamin and mineral levels and have yearly checkups at their comprehensive metabolic and bariatric surgery care center.

Weight Loss Surgery Options

  • The Gastric Sleeve (sleeve gastrectomy) is one of the newer bariatric operations but has quickly gained popularity over the last 10 years. It is also known as the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, Vertical Gastroplasty or Sleeve Gastroplasty, this procedure has become the most popular weight loss operation in the USA. It is mostly a restrictive operation – it works by controlling how much food can be eaten at one time. The operation also causes metabolic effects – which has great health benefits and improves weight loss even further. The sleeve operation is the removal of more than 85% of your stomach. The part that is removed is the most stretchable portion of the stomach. The stomach is divided and stapled vertically, creating a tube or pipe-shaped stomach pouch. The shape and length of the stomach causes serious restriction in the amount of food that can be eaten at one time. The most dramatic metabolic impact the RYGB operation has, is on diabetes. Even before any significant weight has been lost the diabetes has already improved and requires less medication to manage. Read more

  • The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass remains the gold standard to which other weight loss operations are compared. It is the oldest, and best studied weight loss operation. It is the second most frequently performed weight loss operation in the United States, after the sleeve gastrectomy. The gastric bypass takes advantage of both restriction and malabsorption to work. The restrictive part of the procedure is the creation of the small stomach pouch with a very small outlet. The stretchable part of the stomach is no longer used. The malabsorptive part of the procedure involves re-arranging of the small intestine to reduce how much of the intestine is involved in absorbing the small amount of food that is eaten. The operation also causes metabolic effects – which has great health benefits and improves weight loss even further. The most dramatic metabolic impact the RYGB operation has, is on diabetes. Even before any significant weight has been lost the diabetes has already improved and requires less medication to manage.. Read more

  • The Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch – abbreviated as BPD/DS – is a procedure with two parts. First, a smaller, tubular stomach pouch is created by removing a portion of the stomach, very similar to the sleeve gastrectomy. Next, a large portion of the small intestine is bypassed (75%). The duodenum, or the first portion of the small intestine, is divided just past the outlet of the stomach. A segment of the distal (last portion) small intestine is then brought up and connected to the outlet of the newly created stomach, so that when the patient eats, the food goes through the new stomach pouch and empties directly into the last segment of the small intestine. Roughly three-fourths of the small intestine is bypassed by the food stream. Read More

Revision Weight Loss Surgery

  • One of the most common complaints that leads to revision weight loss surgery is heartburn - reflux. The symptoms may be caused by many reasons. The heartburn and reflux can be caused by an obstruction, or bile reflux (bile irritating the esophagus and stomach) disguising itself as acid heartburn and reflux. To determine the cause of the symptoms an Upper Endoscopy (scoping of the stomach/esophagus) and UGI is often performed. READ MORE

  • Though the Lap-Band used for weight loss in individuals who have failed to lose weight through diet and exercise, many patients can experience sub-optimal weight loss despite the surgery, or develop complications. In such cases, revision weight loss surgery may be needed to induce or maintain weight loss or correct a complication. READ MORE

  • The Sleeve Gastrectomy operation is used in morbidly obese patients to lose weight. Some patients can experience sub-optimal weight loss despite the surgery, or develop complications. In such cases, revision weight loss surgery may be needed to induce or maintain weight loss or correct a complication. READ MORE

  • The Gastric Bypass operation is used in morbidly obese patients to lose weight. Some patients can experience sub-optimal weight loss despite the surgery, or develop complications. In such cases, revision weight loss surgery may be needed to induce or maintain weight loss or correct a complication. Read More

Plastic Surgery

  • Many people who have lost 100 pounds or more are overjoyed at their success. After losing weight, loose, heavy folds of skin can interfere with walking, balance, hygiene, skin care, and simply getting clothes to fit correctly. READ MORE