Page Content
Weight loss surgery is an important and life-changing decision. The following resources are available to help you make an informed and educated decision.
Who are candidates for bariatric surgery?
- If you have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of greater than 40 kg/m2 (check your BMI here) or be about 100 lbs. or more overweight.
- You have a Body Mass Index (BMI) between 35 and 40 kg/m2 with significant related illness or conditions made worse by obesity. These secondary conditions are called comorbidities
- You have failed other diet attempts or medically managed weight-loss programs.
Who is not eligible for bariatric surgery?
- Your obesity is related to an untreated metabolic or endocrine disorder
- You have an untreated history of substance abuse or untreated major psychiatric disease
- You have health conditions that are severe enough that surgery would be dangerous
- You want to become pregnant within the next 18 months
- You are 65 years of age or older
Types of weight loss surgery
- There are many variations of weight loss surgery. We offer three different procedures — Gastric Bypass or Roux-en-Y, Sleeve Gastrectomy, Lap Band.
- Each surgery procedure is different and there are pros and cons to each one. Please refer to the following descriptions of each surgery for more information.
The pros and cons of Lap-Band
- Adjustable
- Least invasive option
- Reversible (weight loss would also be reversed)
- Same-day surgery
- Slower weight loss
- Frequent follow up needed
- 10% risk of band dysfunction
- Band complications (slips, erosion, infections, etc.)
The pros and cons of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
- Rapid weight loss
- Most done via laprascope
- Less follow up than band
- No foreign body
- Rerouting bowel is required by cutting and stapling
- More operative complications than band
- Not adjustable
- Technically more complex to perform
- Difficult to reverse
The pros and cons of Sleeve Gastrectomy
- No intestinal rerouting
- Relatively new procedure
- May have staple line leaks or other immediate complications
- No dumping syndrome Not adjustable /permanent change
- Not reversible
While the best way to determine which weight-loss surgery is best for you is to speak with one of our surgeons; however, ultimately the decision is your choice. The following criteria may also assist you when making your choice:
- Your personal and health goals
- The cause of your obesity
- A sound understanding of why you over eat
- Your body type
- Your risk tolerance
- Your ability to tolerate and accept consequences or side effects
- Other medical conditions you have