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Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric surgery is a powerful weight-loss tool

If you’re like a lot of people trying to lose weight, you’ve probably tried it all — diets, exercise, shakes, powders, pills and other weight loss programs. Chances are, you lost a few pounds with them, and there’s an even bigger chance you gained it all back. When other methods don’t work, bariatric surgery may be an effective option for lasting weight loss.

What is bariatric surgery?

The treatment of obesity with surgery is called bariatric surgery after the Greek words, baros, for “weight,” and iatrikos for “the art of healing.”  This weight loss method has developed over the last 50+ years in an effort to provide a solution to the growing problem of obesity. As more individuals have this type of surgery and more studies are conducted, medical researchers are reporting favorable results for individuals both in terms of weight loss and their overall health.

Is it right for you?

If you have a BMI of 30 or more, then you may be a candidate for significant weight loss through one of the three types of bariatric surgery. These procedures vary in risk and in how your body’s stomach and/or intestines are altered to achieve weight loss, so it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of each.

Explore the three types of bariatric surgery below to find the right option for you.

  • The Lap Band procedure. Discover the benefits of this minimally invasive, reversible surgery that involves placing a band around the upper portion of the stomach to reduce the amount of food the stomach can hold at any given time. Learn more.
  • The Sleeve Gastrectomy. Learn about this form of bariatric surgery which reduces the size of the stomach by stapling off a small section, then permanently removing the remaining portion of the stomach. Read about it.
  • Gastric Bypass Surgery. In this bariatric procedure, a small section of the stomach is stapled away, while the remainder is permanently sectioned off. This smaller, pouch-like stomach is then connected to the small intestine. Get the facts.

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