Types of Weight Loss Surgery

Weight loss surgery is an option for people who are severely obese and cannot lose weight with diet and exercise alone. People seeking weight loss surgery may suffer from serious obesity-related health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, joint pain, and problems with sleep. 

There are three main types of weight loss surgery:

Restrictive

Restrictive surgery limits food intake by placing a row of staples or a band around the stomach. This limits the amount of food that can pass from the upper part of the stomach into the larger lower part of the stomach. The restrictive surgery reduces the amount of food the stomach can hold and slows the passage of food through the stomach resulting in a lower calorie intake. Examples of restrictive surgery include laparoscopic adjustable gastric band and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

Malabsorptive

Malabsorptive surgery does not limit food intake, but instead bypasses a portion of the small intestine so fewer calories and nutrients are absorbed.

Combined Restrictive and Malabsorptive

Combination surgery unites both restrictive and malabsorptive surgeries to produce weight loss. An example of a combination surgery is the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

Like all treatments for obesity, the best results are achieved with healthy eating behaviors and regular physical activity.

Alternatives to Weight Loss Surgery

Weight loss surgery should be a last resort for people looking to lose weight. There are many different non-surgical options available to people looking to lose weight without surgery. These options include low calorie diets, exercise, liquid diets and FDA approved prescription medications. Ask the bariatric surgery team about the Adult Weight Management Program at Lourdes where you can work with a physician, a nutritionist, an exercise physiologist, and a psychologist to try to lose weight without surgery.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with our Bariatric Nurse Navigator, please call us at 607-798-5485.