Bariatric Surgery, Gastric Bypass, Obesity Surgery, Laparoscopic Surgery, Obesity, Fat Surgery, Morbid Obesity, Body Mass Index
To discuss your options call our office or attend one of our seminars
559-431-8446 or 1-888-554-THIN

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass operation has been performed more than any other weight loss procedure. This operation has been performed in the United States for more than 20 years. It is the procedure that Carnie Wilson had and is known by the common name of "gastric bypass."

A very small gastric pouch or "new stomach" is created  usually about 30cc (one ounce) in size. A normal stomach is about 1000cc to 2000 cc in size, therefore this greatly reduces the amount of food you can eat after this surgery. In addition, approximately 3-4 feet of the small intestine are bypassed (normally a person has about 20 feet total), and the new stomach pouch is connected to the bypassed segment of small intestine. This operation, works primarily by limiting or restricting the amount of food that you can eat and, to a much lesser extent, the amount which is absorbed or digested by your body.

We routinely perform this surgery laparoscopically using 6 very small incisions (less than 1/2 inch) in all of our patients. It generally takes about 1.5 hours to perform the surgery, and most people stay in the hospital about 2  days. By the time you are released, you will be walking without difficulty and eating a liquid diet.
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The Duodenal Switch procedure for weight loss was developed by in 1988. It achieves moderate restriction by reducing stomach volume and severe malabsorption by allowing food and digestive juices to pass through the intestinal tract separately, not mixing  until the distal small bowel.

About 80% of the stomach is removed leaving a 150cc new stomach pouch. The average amount that a normal stomach can hold is about 1000 - 2000cc  so the capacity of the stomach is greatly reduced by this operation.

The beginning part of the small intestine, known as the duodenum, is cut or divided just beyond where the stomach meets the small intestine. The distal or furthest part of the small intestine, known as the ileum, is then cut or divided about 7 feet before it enters into the large intestine. The ileum is then connected to the duodenum and the section of bypassed intestine which carries the digestive enzymes (bile and pancreatic juices) is connected to the small intestine 100 centimeters (about 3 feet) before the small intestine becomes the large intestine or colon. This portion of the bowel is known as the common channel or common limb because it becomes the only part of the small intestine where both food and digestive enzymes mix, limiting digestion to only a small portion of the total calories that are eaten.

The Duodenal Switch
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The Lap Band

For more information
on the lap band click here.
The LapBandTM is the newest and simplest surgical weight loss procedure. Approved for use in the United Sates by the FDA in June of 2001, the LapBand has been in use in Europe, Central America, and Australia since the early 1990s. In addition to being simple to place, it is fully adjustable to allow an optimal weight loss for each individual patient. One can expext about 30% loss of your excess weight

The band, which is actually a silastic (plastic) balloon that looks like a belt, is wrapped around the top of the stomach and secured in place with sutures. The band serves three functions:

1) to limit the amount of food that is consumed,
2) to delay emptying of the new small pouch,
3) to create the sensation of being "full" all of the time so that the desire to eat is decreased.
 
The band is connected to a reservoir which sits under the skin on the abdominal wall. Saline solution (salt water) can either be added or removed from the reservoir to make the band tighter or looser. This allows each patient to have an individualized weight loss program which can be customized to their personal situation.

The procedure is performed laparoscopically and takes approximately 30-40 minutes. Following the procedure, patients generally only need to stay in the hospital 1 night (less than 24 hours!).

To discuss your options call our office or attend one of our seminars
559-431-8446 or 1-888-554-THIN