Anchorage Bariatrics Surgical Procedures

Your Guide to Bariatric Surgery Options: Sleeve Gastrectomy, Gastric Bypass, and Lap Band

LAPAROSCOPIC SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY

  • The “Sleeve” is now the most commonly performed bariatric surgery in the United States
  • About 85% of the stomach is removed. You are left with a stomach about the size and shape of a small banana.
  • The “sleeve” restricts how much you can eat because the stomach is smaller.
  • It also greatly affects your gastrointestinal (GI) hormones to make you less hungry and help your body regulate weight better.
  • Average weight loss is 65-75% of your excess weight.
  • Also, there can be drastic improvement or resolution of medical conditions associated with weight.

LAPAROSCOPIC ROUX-EN-Y GASTRIC BYPASS:

  • The “gastric bypass” is currently the second most commonly performed bariatric surgery in the United States and is considered by many to be the “Gold Standard” bariatric procedure.
  • A new stomach pouch is made about the size of an egg and about 25% of the intestine is rerouted.
  • Nothing is removed.The gastric bypass works in 3 ways: First, it restricts how much you can eat because the stomach is smaller. Second, because a portion of the intestines are bypassed, less of the food you eat gets absorbed. Third, it also greatly affects your gastrointestinal (GI) hormones to make you less hungry and help your body regulate weight better.
  • Average weight loss is 65-75% of your excess weight. Also, there can be drastic improvement or resolution of medical conditions associated with weight.

Weight Loss Options: Bariatric Surgery vs. Medication-Assisted Weight Loss vs. Both

At Anchorage Bariatrics, we take a holistic view towards health and wellness, and strive to provide comprehensive weight loss solutions specifically tailored to each individual patient. This handout provides information to help you understand the differences between bariatric surgery and medication-assisted weight loss.

LAP BAND®:

  • The Lap Band® is performed using minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery.
  • A plastic-like band is placed around the top of the stomach and connected to a port under your skin.
  • By injecting the port with saline (water) we can inflate and deflate the balloon to make it tighter or looser.
  • The Lap Band® works by restricting how much you can eat.
  • It is reversible and the device can be removed at any time.
  • Average weight loss is about 50% of your excess weight.


*Important note - we do not place Lap Bands; however, we will adjust existing Lap Bands for patients.