Bariatric surgery is a surgical intervention for obesity. This type of surgery has been proven to be more effective than lifestyle, dietary and medical interventions in the management of obesity. Bariatric surgery involves the modification of different parts of the gastrointestinal tract in order to induce weight loss.
There are four types of minimally invasive bariatric surgery:
- Gastric balloon involves placing a balloon filled with saline solution in your stomach using an endoscope. This balloon induces a sensation of fullness so that you eat less.
- Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is used to manage morbid obesity. This surgery involves reducing the size of your stomach by placing a silicone band around the upper end of the stomach. You then feel full faster, eat less and eventually lose weight.
- Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is used to permanently reduce the size of your stomach to about 25% of its original size, thus resembling a sleeve or a tube.
- Laparoscopic roux-en-y gastric bypass (LRYGB) is the most complex bariatric surgery. It is used to reduce the size of your stomach to a small pouch by clipping off a section of it. This small pouch is then directly attached to the small intestine, bypassing the rest of the stomach and the upper end of the small intestine. This surgery not only reduces food intake but also limits the absorption of calories and fats by the body.