Weight Loss Surgery
We currently perform Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, and revisional weight loss surgery.
We perform minimally invasive or laparoscopic surgery for all these procedures. During your consultation your surgeon will discuss the benefits and risks of all these procedures with you and your family. We believe all these operations are good, they just work in different ways. Every patient’s expectations, experiences, medical conditions, and risk tolerance are different. We work with you to try to make the best decision of which operation is best for you as an individual.
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery has the most research and longest history of any other bariatric surgery in the United States. Due to this longstanding history all other weight loss surgeries have been compared to the results of gastric bypass surgery as well. This surgery is routinely performed using a minimally invasive technique or also known as laparoscopic surgery. There are 2 components to this operation, the 1st being a restrictive component where the surgeon will divide the stomach with a stapling device and create a small pouch that is approximately the size of an egg. The 2nd component, the surgeon will divide the intestine and connect this to the new small gastric pouch and then reconnects the other end of the intestine to another segment distally creating a bypassed component. This effectively bypasses the 1st part of the small intestine known as the duodenum, removing it from its role of digesting and absorbing food. Thus creating a malabsorptive component which decreases the number of calories being absorbed, which will ultimately lead to weight loss.
Sleeve Gastrectomy
Sleeve gastrectomy is a procedure that removes approximately 80-85% of the stomach. The term sleeve is used to describe the banana shaped structure or a sleeve of a shirt. No device or other structure is left in the abdomen, different from the gastric band. By making the stomach significantly smaller it reduces the amount of food that can be consumed at 1 time. Also, a hormone called ghrelin, is produced in the portion of the stomach that is removed. By reducing this amount of hormone, it can reduce the sensation of hunger. Reducing the amount of food that can be taken in and also by reducing the sensation of hunger will lead to weight loss over time.
Revisional Weight Loss Surgery
We do perform revisional weight loss surgery. Every individual’s situation will be evaluated and a treatment plan will be designed to correct any anatomical abnormalities, complications from previous surgery, weight regain after weight loss surgery, or insufficient weight loss.
Not all conditions require revisional surgery. We will help you identify the problem. Whether the solution is surgical or medical treatment, we are here to help.
Laparoscopic Gastric banding
We do not regularly perform this procedure any longer.
In very unique situations this may be offered. We do offer revisional surgery for people that have had gastric bands placed in the past. Problems that patients may experience range from slippage, prolapse, or even possibly erosions. All these situations can only ultimately be corrected with surgical intervention. If you have a lap band and have not been successful with that or have not been evaluated for some time please contact us. We are here to help you find a solution which may just be better management of the band with adjustments or removal of the band and possible conversion to a different weight loss procedure that may better serve you.