What are the best weight loss surgery options available today?
Weight loss surgery has come a long way over the past few decades. It is considered a safe procedure that helps nearly 300,000 people annually in the United States lose significant weight and improve their health.
At Long Island Laparoscopic Doctors, Dr. Hesham Atwa, his colleagues, and team are often asked about the best weight loss surgery options available today. The best weight loss surgery option will be guided by your individual health, your preferences, and the professional recommendation of your surgeon.
Primary Weight Loss Surgery Options
There are a number of weight loss procedures commonly performed in the United States. These include:
Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: The laparoscopically performed sleeve gastrectomy is currently the most commonly performed weight loss procedure in the United States. It involves removing a portion of your stomach to create a smaller, banana-shaped stomach pouch. It restricts the amount of food that you can consume and also affects your hunger-regulating hormones thereby lowering your level of hunger.
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB): The RYGB involves creating aa small pouch at the top portion of your stomach and connecting it directly to your small intestine. This procedure limits the amount of food you can eat and reduction in calorie absorption.
Other procedures you may hear about include:
Mini-Bypass: The mini-bypass is a simplified version of the traditional gastric bypass surgery. It involves a longer pouch of the stomach along with a single anastomosis (connection). It is considered less invasive, yet still has various risks and benefits.
Laparoscopic Adjustable Band: The laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding involves placing an adjustable band around the top of your stomach to create a small pouch. The band can be tightened or loosened to control your food intake.
Gastric Balloon: The gastric balloon is a non-surgical weight loss procedure where a deflated balloon is inserted into your stomach endoscopically and then inflated. It takes up space in your stomach, reducing its capacity and assisting with weight loss. It is typically a temporary measure and removed after 6 months.
Various Revisional Surgeries: Revisional weight loss surgery is a medical procedure performed on individuals who have previously undergone weight loss surgery. Revisional surgery carries higher risks and performed primarily as a result of inadequate weight loss, complications from the initial surgery, or the development of new medical conditions.
Determining the Best Option for You
At your initial consultation appointment, you will sit down together with your surgeon to review your individualized health history and discuss what option is best for you. You are an important partner when it comes to your care and everyone at Long Island Laparoscopic Doctors welcome your questions.
Dr. Hesham Atwa and his team guide you throughout your entire weight loss journey so you not only lose weight, but understand how to keep it off for life.
If you have questions or are ready to get started, please reach out to us via our contact page.