Types of Bariatric Surgery

All forms of bariatric surgery at Ballad Health make the stomach smaller so you feel full sooner, but they work in different ways. Ask your doctor for help choosing the right procedure for you. He or she likely performs some procedures minimally invasively – with smaller incisions, or cuts in the skin – to reduce pain, scarring and recovery time.

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

During gastric bypass surgery, your surgeon forms a small stomach pouch and attaches it directly to your small intestine, bypassing most of the stomach and the small intestine’s first part. This means your stomach can hold less food, and your body absorbs less fat. You’ll likely lose most of your excess weight within a year, so your doctor may recommend this procedure especially if your BMI is over 45.

Here is an example of how gastric bypass works.

Sleeve gastrectomy

A surgeon performing sleeve gastrectomy removes 70 to 80 percent of your stomach. You may lose weight more slowly and steadily after this procedure than after gastric bypass. You’re also less likely to experience dumping syndrome – cramps and gas after eating lots of sugar or fat.

Watch an animated video to see how sleeve gastrectomy changes your digestive system.

Lap-Band surgery

During Lap-Band surgery, a surgeon wraps an adjustable band around the top of your stomach to create a small pouch. Afterward, you’ll visit your surgeon occasionally to make the band tighter or looser. The Lap-Band procedure doesn’t change your stomach, and your surgeon can remove the band if necessary. But you’ll need to make more lifestyle changes than with other types of bariatric surgery.

Think weight-loss surgery can help?

You can learn more about bariatric surgery – and whether it’s right for you – at our free Exploring Weight-Loss Surgery class.