If you struggle with obesity and are considering having weight loss surgery, it's important to understand all of your options. Here at the Virginia Bariatric Surgery Center, we've prepared a series of computer-generated bariatric surgery video clips that describe each of the procedures we offer to help you make an informed choice about your health.

Adjustable Gastric Banding Animation

In this bariatric surgery video, you'll see how the adjustable gastric band (also known as the LAP-BAND) is placed inside the patient's stomach using laparoscopic techniques - that means only tiny incisions are made. The LAP-BAND is adjustable and fully reversible, and is designed to help patients achieve a steady, healthy rate of weight loss.

"During a minimally-invasive procedure, an adjustable band is placed around the upper part of the stomach (just below the esophagus), creating a small pouch. The band is connected by thin tubing to an access port below the skin. Through this port, your surgeon adjusts the LAP-BAND by inflating, or deflating, the inner lining with saline. As the band inflates, the stomach outlet becomes smaller; this helps reduce or restrict the amount of food you eat, and slows the emptying into the lower stomach, helping you feel full sooner, and stay full longer."

Sleeve Gastrectomy Animation

This bariatric surgery video demonstrates sleeve gastrectomy, a permanent, non-reversible procedure that reduces the size of the stomach to restrict the amount of food a patient can eat. Sleeve gastrectomy requires an incision in the stomach, and the use of surgical staples to help the incision heal.

"Sleeve Gastrectomy is a restrictive procedure that limits food intake by cutting and stapling a thin vertical section of the stomach to make a smaller, narrower stomach pouch. The remaining larger portion of the stomach is then permanently removed. Unlike gastric bypass, there is no re-routing of the intestines, however, the sleeve gastrectomy involves permanently removing a large portion of the stomach."

Gastric Bypass Animation

This bariatric surgery video shows gastric bypass, a surgical procedure that re-routes the path food takes, bypassing most of the stomach and upper intestines, resulting in fewer nutrients and calories being absorbed. Although gastric bypass can be reversed, doing so is complicated and not always successful.

"Gastric bypass is a restrictive and malabsorptive procedure that results in fewer nutrients and calories being absorbed. It reduces food intake by cutting and stapling the stomach to make a small stomach pouch. The small intestine is cut, and the lower section is directly attached to the new pouch. Food then passes directly into the lower portion of the small intestine, bypassing most of the stomach and the upper intestines.

If you have any questions about the information provided in one of our bariatric surgery video clips, or to learn more about our medical weight loss programs here at Virginia Bariatrics, call or email us today.