Weight Loss Surgery: Explore Your Options
Start your weight loss journey
Considering weight loss surgery? We understand it can feel overwhelming. Our team of experts in minimally invasive bariatric surgery is here to guide you through every step, from understanding the procedure and navigating insurance to choosing the right weight loss method for your unique needs.
Don't navigate this journey alone. Reach out to our weight loss specialists to book a consultation or reserve your spot at our upcoming information session.
What is Weight Loss Surgery?
Weight loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery, encompasses a variety of surgical procedures performed on people who have obesity. These procedures aim to help individuals lose weight by making changes to their digestive system.
How it Works: Weight loss surgery works by:
- Restricting Food Intake: Some procedures reduce the size of the stomach, limiting the amount of food a person can eat at one time.
- Reducing Nutrient Absorption: Other procedures alter the digestive tract to reduce the amount of calories and nutrients the body absorbs.
- A Combination of Both: Some procedures do both.
Common Conditions Treated by Weight Loss Surgery
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Heart Disease
Obesity is a major risk factor for heart disease, including coronary artery disease and heart failure. Weight loss surgery can reduce the risk of these conditions.
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Osteoarthritis
Excess weight puts significant stress on joints, leading to pain and inflammation. Weight loss surgery can reduce this stress and improve joint function.
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Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea, a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, is strongly linked to obesity. Weight loss surgery can significantly improve or resolve sleep apnea.
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High Blood Pressure
Obesity often contributes to high blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems. Weight loss surgery can help lower blood pressure and reduce the need for medication.
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High Cholesterol
Obesity can lead to elevated levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol and triglycerides, increasing the risk of heart disease. Weight loss surgery can help improve cholesterol levels.
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Type 2 Diabetes
This is one of the most common and compelling reasons for weight loss surgery. Obesity is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes, and weight loss surgery can often lead to significant improvement or even remission of the disease.
Common types of weight loss surgery include:
Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG)
The sleeve gastrectomy is a minimally invasive weight loss surgery that creates a smaller, banana-shaped stomach, restricting food intake and promoting hormonal changes that increase satiety and suppress hunger. This procedure can also lead to the reversal of Type 2 diabetes in many cases.
How it Helps You:
- Limits the amount of food you can eat.
- Reduces hunger and increases feelings of fullness.
Gastric Bypass
The gastric bypass procedure creates a small stomach pouch and connects it directly to the small intestine, bypassing a portion of the digestive tract. This reduces calorie and nutrient absorption and promotes hormonal changes that increase satiety, suppress hunger, and may reverse Type 2 diabetes.
How it Helps You:
- Reduces the number of calories and nutrients absorbed.
- Increases feelings of fullness and reduces hunger.
Gastric Reduction Duodenal Switch
Gastric Reduction Duodenal Switch (often abbreviated as BPD/DS) is a type of combined weight loss surgery. It's considered both:
- Restrictive: Because it reduces the size of the stomach, limiting the amount of food a person can eat.
- Malabsorptive: Because it bypasses a significant portion of the small intestine, reducing the amount of calories and nutrients the body absorbs.
How it Works:
With this procedure, the food empties directly into the duodenum, bypassing about ¾ of the small intestine. This causes the body to absorb fewer calories and nutrients. Duodenal switch surgery affects hormones in the gut to reduce hunger, increase satiety and help control blood sugar to effectively treat diabetes.
*On Average, patients typically maintain 60% - 70% of their weight loss and can expect to average 1 -2 weeks away from work.
