6 Types of Weight Loss Surgery

There are 6 types of weight loss surgery (also called “bariatric surgery”) available.

Each type has advantages and disadvantages, and this page will help you decide which one is right for you.

Here is a very brief description of how each procedure will help you lose weight:

1. Gastric Sleeve – you will feel less hungry generally & full sooner while eating

2. Gastric Bypass – you will feel full sooner while eating & absorb fewer minerals

3. Duodenal Switch – you feel less hungry generally & full sooner while eating, absorb fewer calories and minerals

4. LAP-BAND® – you will feel full sooner while eating

5. Gastric Balloon – you will temporarily feel full sooner while eating (balloon removed after 6 months)

6. AspireAssist – drain a portion of stomach contents after eating and absorb fewer calories

Following are overviews of each of the 7 available types of weight loss surgery, including how they work and how they will help you to lose weight quickly.

Gastric Sleeve

If you choose gastric sleeve:

• A big portion of your stomach will be removed

• You will feel full sooner after eating

• You will lose weight quickly because:

  • You will not be able to eat as much

  • Your smaller stomach will secrete fewer hunger-causing hormones which means you won’t feel as hungry

Gastric Bypass

If you choose gastric bypass:

• Your stomach will be split into 2 parts: a small pouch at the top and the rest at the bottom

• Your intestines will be rearranged to bypass the the top portion of your small intestines

• If you do not follow a strict diet, you will have problems with malnutrition and dumping syndrome

• You will lose weight quickly because:

  • Your smaller stomach pouch will cause you to feel full sooner while eating

  • You will not be able to eat as much

  • Your body will absorb fewer minerals

Duodenal Switch

If you choose duodenal switch:

• A big portion of your stomach will be removed

• Your intestines will be rearranged to bypass a long portion of your small intestines

• Your gallbladder will be removed

• You will feel full sooner while eating

• You will lose weight quickly because your smaller stomach will secrete fewer hunger-causing hormones which means you won’t feel as hungry and your body will absorb fewer minerals and calories

LAP-BAND®

If you choose LAP-BAND®:

• An adjustable band will be wrapped around the top portion of your stomach, creating a small stomach “pouch” above the band.

• Your smaller stomach pouch will fill up quicker while eating

• You will lose weight quickly because you will not be able to eat as much

Gastric Balloon

There are currently 2 types of gastric balloons available in the United States: single balloon (which may include multiple single balloons, depending on the balloon manufacturer) and dual-balloon. If you choose one of these procedures:

• A deflated balloon will be inserted into your stomach through your mouth, then will be inflated once it reaches your stomach

• You will lose weight because you won’t be able to eat as much

Aspire Assist

If you choose the AspireAssist device:

• Your stomach will be connected to a port on the outside of your abdomen

• After each meal, you will connect a tube and pump to your abdominal port and empty part of your stomach contents

• You will lose weight because a large portion of your meals will be removed from your stomach before your body has a chance to digest and absorb it.

You will lose weight quickly after most procedures, with your low weight coming 12 to 18 months after the procedure.

At 65% to 70% excess weight loss after 1 year, the duodenal switch (DS), gastric sleeve, and gastric bypass are very similar. The DS pulls ahead over the long-term as you’ll be less likely to gain weight back after the first couple of years.

At 40% excess weight loss after 1 year, Lap-Band is 4th behind sleeve, bypass, and DS.

Gastric balloon and AspireAssist are at the low end of the weight loss spectrum at 25% – 30% excess weight loss after 1 year.