Dr. David Provost clearly explains the differences between the Lap-Band procedure and gastric bypass surgery in this helpful two-minute video segment. Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of both procedures, average weight loss results, common side effects, and the differences in long-term follow-up care that the Lap-Band and gastric bypass procedures require. Click the video screen to watch now! Read the full story

Gastric bypass surgery is an increasingly viable weight loss solution for morbidly obese individuals, thanks to new laparoscopic techniques that not only reduce the risks associated with the surgery, but also reduce the costs by shortening patients’ recovery time. Today, thousands of people who are unable to lose weight through diet and exercise regimens can find new hope with gastric bypass surgery, thanks to the latest developments in bariatric procedures.

Early experiments with gastric bypass surgery began nearly half a century ago, when doctors noticed that patients who had a portion of their intestines removed due to an illness or injury had a dramatic weight loss following the surgery. They discovered that when food is delivered quickly to a lower part of the intestine, the body is unable to properly absorb all of the calories. Although doctors recognized that this could be detrimental to an individual with a normal build, they determined that the inability to absorb calories and the consequent weight loss would be beneficial to individuals with extreme obesity.

Initial attempts at bariatric surgery were successful inasmuch as the procedures resulted in rapid weight loss; however, they also caused additional side effects, which in many cases proved fatal. Surgeons quickly discovered that patients who had undergone this type of gastric surgery could not absorb essential vitamins and nutrients, and consequently suffered extreme malnutrition. This led to the development of new bariatric techniques that bypass a portion of the intestine and minimize the size of the stomach by creating a smaller “pouch”. The procedure still results in rapid weight loss by limiting how much food can be eaten, but the body is also better able to absorb essential nutrients.

Similarly, early gastric bypass procedures were much riskier for patients because the surgery was far more invasive than it is today. Historically, surgeons would create a large incision just below the breast bone and use carbon dioxide gas to inflate the stomach cavity and stretch the skin away from the major organs, so they could perform the bypass surgery. In more recent years, surgeons have used new developments in laparoscopic surgery that enable them to perform a gastric bypass procedure using microscopic cameras and medical instruments inside the abdominal cavity. The laparoscopic technique only requires a few very small incisions, which dramatically reduces a patient’s risk of infection and also cuts down the recovery time in the hospital.

These continued advances in surgical techniques and equipment combined with an improved understanding of the body’s biochemical functions are helping to minimize the dangers of gastric bypass surgery while maximizing the potential for long-term weight loss. And, although surgical intervention is still generally viewed as a last resort, for individuals suffering life-threatening illnesses as a result of excessive weight, gastric bypass surgery provides the possibility for a bright future.

Want to learn more about different weight loss surgery procedures? Check out this two-minute video on Lap-Band vs. Gastric Bypass Surgery.

Weight loss surgery has gained immense popularity over the past several years, as advances in medical technology and research have made it a more viable option for thousands of patients suffering from morbid obesity. This article explores the risks and benefits of bariatric procedures, to help you determine whether weight loss surgery is right for you.

Obesity has become an epidemic in the United States and shows no sign of getting any better. Many people spend years trying every new fad diet and weight loss gimmick that hits the market. In fact, weight loss is a multi-billion dollar industry.

However, for the morbidly obese individual, the thought of “starving” for months or years on end is unthinkable, and the idea of exercising to lose hundreds of pounds is inconceivable. Enter weight loss surgery.

Is Weight Loss Surgery the Ultimate Cure?

At first blush, weight loss surgery seems like an easy way to fix the problem of obesity. Medical professionals agree that consuming less calories than you burn is the only real way to lose weight. For those who have difficulty managing their food intake, gastric bypass surgery can provide an effective solution by both restricting the amount of food that can be eaten and interrupting the digestive process so the body absorbs fewer calories. Gastric banding procedures, such as the Lap-band® system, are less invasive and easily reversable, and they still help constrict caloric intake. However, these procedures do not affect how the body processes food in the same way that gastric bypass surgery does.

Who Should Consider Weight Loss Surgery?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a normal Body Mass Index (BMI) is 18.5 – 25, while a BMI of 30 and above qualifies as obese. Anyone with a BMI over 40 should consider weight loss surgery. That means a man who is 100 pounds overweight or a women who is 80 pounds overweight is a potential candidate for weight loss surgery. Often, weight loss surgery candidates will also suffer from obesity-related health issues, such as sleep apnea, heart problems or diabetes, and may also experience lower back and knee problems directly related to being overweight.

While surgery carries many dangers, these may be less severe than the danger of remaining morbidly obese. However, surgery only changes the physical aspects of being overweight. It will not address the mental and emotional causes for excessive eating. Candidates for weight loss surgery should also consider getting the appropriate help to address these psychological issues, because there are no guarantees that any weight loss method, including surgery, will cause you to lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Total success is only possible if you fully commit yourself to making the necessary behavioral changes needed to assure you can maintain your desired weight for the rest of your life.

Several different surgical options are available today, but all essentially work the same way by restricting the amount of food that can enter the stomach. No matter which method you choose, undergoing weight loss surgery is a serious decision. You need to consider both the risks and the benefits.

Benefits of weight loss surgery:

• Most patients will begin to lose weight immediately and will lose anywhere from 50 to 75 percent of their excess weight within two years of surgery. Long-term studies show that, although most weight loss surgery patients do regain some weight, most have kept off 50 percent of the excess weight five to 15 years later.
• Most other obesity related problems, such as sleep apnea, high blood pressure, diabetes, and lower back or knee pain, improve considerably and in some cases disappear.

Risks of weight loss surgery:

• Up to 20 percent of the patients require follow-up surgery to correct a complication of the original weight loss procedure.
• More than one-third of weight loss surgery patients develop gallstones (although newer treatments can minimize this risk).
• Approximately 30 percent of patients develop severe nutritional deficiencies, such as anemia, osteoporosis, and metabolic bone disorders. Taking the correct combination of dietary supplements can prevent these problems.
• Women should not get pregnant for at least two years after surgery to prevent serious post-surgical complications. Women should consider pregnancy only after consultation with a health professional to make sure they are taking the correct nutritional supplements to protect both her and the baby from nutritional deficiencies.

Bottom Line: if you are considering weight loss surgery, talk to your doctor and follow his or her advice.

This article provides an overview of health issues related to gastric bypass surgery and is not intended to replace the advice of a medical practitioner. Please consult your doctor prior to making any major medical decisions.