Posted on May 18, 2017 at 12:00 AM by Iowa Weight Loss Specialists
There are three common types of weight loss surgeries available for those looking to lose excess weight: gastric bypass, adjustable band, and sleeve gastrectomy.
At Iowa Weight Loss Specialists, we’re asked many times why we specialize in only the gastric sleeve weight loss surgery.
Each surgery has it’s own pros and cons. When it comes to surgical procedures, many times it’s the comfort level of the patient, as well as the long-term results of the procedure itself. Below is a quick overview of the three most common weight loss surgeries to become familiar with each procedure.
The Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (Gastric Bypass)
The first well-known weight loss surgery, the gastric bypass has two components. The first component is dividing the stomach to create a small and large pouch. Then, the small intestine is divided and connected to each pouch, rerouting where food goes and how much room it has.
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Adjustable Gastric Band (Lap Band or Band)
Another common weight loss procedure, an inflatable band is placed around the stomach creating a small upper stomach pouch and your remaining stomach below the band. The size of the band is adjusted slowly over time to decrease the amount of food that can be held.
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Sleeve Gastrectomy (Gastric Sleeve)
This minimally invasive laparascopic surgery removes up to 80% of the stomach, leaving the remaining stomach to look like the sleeve of a shirt or the shape of a banana.
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Surgery itself is only one part of the weight loss puzzle. While the surgeries assist with rapid and significant weight loss, healthy lifestyle habits including daily exercise and a healthy diet play the biggest role in long-term success.
Dr. Todd Eibes of Iowa Weight Loss Specialists states, “I have performed hundreds of gastric bypasses and gastric sleeve procedures in my career. Several years ago, I switched to performing primarily gastric sleeve surgery since it has a much lower complication rate with weight loss that is similar to a gastric bypass. The sleeve causes long-term reduction in some hormones that help control appetite. By decreasing these hormone levels, we can achieve long-term appetite suppression with a surgery that has a very low risk to most patients.”
At Iowa Weight Loss Specialists, we also believe a whole-team approach is necessary to the success of our patients. We provide support groups, mental health specialists, dietitians, exercise coaches and more, all under one roof to make your life easier and help you achieve your goals.
Get more information about Iowa Weight Loss Specialists or register for a free informational session
Source: American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery