Weight Loss Surgery Options

Considering having bariatric surgery? If so, it's important to understand the weight loss surgery options available to you.

Here at Virginia Bariatric Surgery Center, bariatric surgeon, Dr. Fitzer, specializes in three types of surgical weight loss procedures, including:

Each of these procedures is designed to help you lose weight by reducing the stomach volume, which reduces the amount of food required to feel full. People with restrictive operations feel full with less food than before surgery so they simply end up wanting to eat less.  This reduces the number of calories patients consume on a daily basis, helping them lose excess weight and maintain that weight loss over time.

Fellowship-trained bariatric surgeon Dr. Fitzer specializes in these three weight loss surgeries because they are proven to deliver the best outcomes for patients.

A word about the duodenal switch operation…

The ‘duodenal switch’ operation is a strongly malabsorptive operation with a relatively small following among bariatric surgeons in the United States.  Duodenal switch surgery does produce marginally better weight loss results than other weight loss surgery options, although for most patients the difference is ten pounds or less.  For that rather small increase in weight loss, the operation comes with quite a bit of baggage, including some often-distressful alterations in bowel habits, substantial higher risk of nutritional problems, and substantially higher operative risks in general.  Because of these problems, it is the consensus opinion of the professional bariatric community that the standard options are superior.  Dr. Fitzer agrees that the increase in short and long-term risks with the duodenal switch do not justify the very modest improvement in weight loss that it can provide.    

Weight Loss Revision Surgery

In addition to Gastric Bypass, Gastric Sleeve, and Gastric Banding, Dr. Fitzer also has extensive training and experience in performing revisional bariatric operations.

Although most patients who get weight-loss surgery will never need a repeat operation, some patients do experience some kind of long-term issue that requires surgical intervention.  These interventions include things such as replacement of a malfunctioning LAP-BAND or conversion from a LAP-BAND or sleeve gastrectomy to gastric bypass.

What to Consider When Exploring Your Weight Loss Surgery Options

While all weight loss procedures are designed to achieve lasting weight-loss, each option has its own pro’s and con’s. Here are a few points to consider when exploring which option is right for you:

Amount of Weight You'd Like to Lose

Patients who undergo gastric bypass usually lose approximately 70 percent of their unwanted weight, while sleeve gastrectomy patients lose about 60 percent.  Gastric banding (LAP-BAND) patients can expect to shed about 45 percent or so of their excess weight.

Speed of Weight Loss

Patients who undergo gastric bypass usually lose approximately 70 percent of their unwanted weight, while sleeve gastrectomy patients lose about 60 percent.  Gastric banding (LAP-BAND) patients can expect to shed about 45 percent or so of their excess weight.

By comparison, gastric banding results in a slower, steady weight loss that averages about 1-2 pounds per week, with goal weights being realized at anywhere from a 1-2 years after the band is placed.

The speed of weight loss is sometimes a factor for patients who may want to keep their weight loss surgery private from co-workers, clients, and neighbors. With a gastric band, weight loss is more gradual, while both gastric bypass and gastric sleeve procedures lead to dramatic weight loss results in a relatively short amount of time.

Reversibility

Both gastric banding and gastric bypass are reversible procedures, thanks to the fact that both of these surgeries leave the stomach in place. By contrast, the sleeve gastrectomy is irreversible (permanent), since a portion of the stomach is surgically removed. (It can’t be saved for later…)   It is possible to convert a sleeve gastrectomy to a gastric bypass.

To learn more about your weight loss surgery options and to schedule a consultation with Dr. Fitzer, give us a call at 703.709.9771 or contact us online.