Center for Weight Control: Surgical Treatment

For decades, surgeons have worked to develop a safe and effective operation to treat obesity. Gastric bypass surgery, which has been performed for several decades, has been refined and can now be performed laparoscopically -- through smaller incisions, using a camera and special instruments. This has resulted in an operation that is easier on patients and has fewer complications. Today gastric bypass surgery is regarded as a safe and effective treatment for severe obesity.

Gastric bypass surgery greatly reduces the size of the stomach. After surgery the individual must eat much smaller meals, much more slowly. As a result, far fewer calories are absorbed. This permanent surgical change leads to gradual, steady weight loss during the first one to two years after surgery.

Center for Weight Control staff counsel patients, before and after surgery, on how to plan meals, maintain healthy nutrition and exercise for the rest of their lives. The Center for Weight Control performs two types of bariatric surgery -- gastric bypass and LAPBand.

During a gastric by-pass a new smaller pouch of stomach is created to limit the amount of food it can hold. In addition, the surgeon also performs a bypass procedure which creates a direct connection from the small pouch to the lower part of the small intestine, therefore bypassing portions of the digestive tract that absorb calories and nutrients.

Normal Anatomy	Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass	Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
Laparoscopic Incisions	Open Incision

LAP-Band surgery also reduces the size of the stomach. However, a gastric band is used to partition off a small portion of the stomach, allowing patients to eat small amounts and feel full.  The Lap-Band is adjustable and can be tightened or loosened to help patients lose weight continuously.

Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band

The Center for Weight Control's surgeon performs gastric bypass surgery laparoscopically, through small incisions instead of one large one. This offers several benefits, including a shorter operation, less pain, a shorter hospital stay and a lower risk of complications such as infection or hernia.

Requirements for Surgery
What to Expect After Surgery