Gastric Sleeve Vs. Gastric Bypass: Benefits and Limitations
If you’ve been considering weight loss surgery but are unsure which method can offer you the best possible results with the lowest risk of sides effects, you may be daunted by the numerous available procedures. At Griffin Hospital, our experienced bariatric surgeon Dr. Rishi Ramlogan can help you determine which technique is right for you; however, we also strongly believe in patient education. As a result, we have detailed a range of benefits and limitations of two of the most popular weight loss surgery options, gastric sleeve and gastric bypass, also called Roux-en-Y, for your convenience.
There are many similarities between a sleeve gastrectomy operation and the gastric bypass, including the potential for dramatic weight loss. They are also both performed laparoscopically, a minimally invasive method that reduces incision size. Both approaches will limit the amount of food intake, and both require a restricted diet following the operation to help achieve optimal weight loss and reduce the risk of complications.
There are important distinctions, as well. With the gastric sleeve method, the stomach will be reduced in size by up to 80 percent by removing a portion of stomach tissue, creating a sleeve-like shape. A gastric sleeve is not a reversible procedure; however, additional techniques, including the gastric bypass, can be performed in the future if greater weight loss is necessary. With gastric bypass, the stomach will be considerably reduced in size as well, creating a small pouch to which the small intestine will then be rerouted. As a result of this, food will “bypass” a small portion of the small intestine. Gastric sleeve surgery is considered a restrictive weight loss surgery, as in this procedure restricts the amount of food you can eat, while gastric bypass is generally considered a combination restrictive and malabsorptive operation. This method will restrict how much you can eat and limit absorption of food. With both procedures, you can expect to lose approximately 60 percent of more of your excess weight.
For more information about these two weight loss methods and other popular bariatric surgery techniques, or if you would like to schedule a consultation with one of our physicians, please contact us today.
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