Types of Procedures
NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital’s bariatric surgery physicians will evaluate your health and preferences and match you with the best procedure for you. These approaches are highly effective for weight loss and have also been found to resolve type 2 diabetes, lower high blood pressure, reduce high cholesterol, and improve quality of life.
Sleeve Gastrectomy
Sleeve gastrectomy is a surgical procedure in which the stomach size is reduced to the shape of a tube or “sleeve,” restricting the amount of food you can eat. The surgeon removes 60 to 75 percent of your stomach.
- Primary sleeve gastrectomy. We commonly use sleeve gastrectomy on its own in some patients. When performed alone, sleeve gastrectomy also decreases the production of the hormone ghrelin, reducing feelings of hunger and resulting in weight loss comparable to gastric bypass.
- Staged procedures. Sleeve gastrectomy can be done as the first of a two-part procedure, followed by gastric bypass. For many people, this approach is safer, allows for additional weight loss, and achieves a longer-lasting result than sleeve gastrectomy alone.
Gastric Bypass Surgery
Gastric bypass is also known as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Your surgeon creates a small pouch in the top of your stomach that forms a “new stomach,” limiting the amount of food you can eat during a meal and helping you feel fuller sooner. The surgeon then creates a small opening, or stoma, in the pouch and attaches that opening to a section of your small intestine. The reconnected intestine causes food to bypass part of the intestine so some of the nutrients and calories will not be absorbed.
Laparoscopic Gastric Banding
Adjustable gastric banding (Lap Band) is much less invasive than other procedures, because neither your stomach nor intestine is cut. Instead, your surgeon places an adjustable band around the upper part of your stomach to create a small pouch above the band. By adding fluid to the band after you recover from surgery, the surgeon adjusts the size of the opening between the smaller, upper pouch and the remaining lower portion of your stomach. The tightness of the band opening controls the passage of food between the two parts of your stomach, giving you a feeling of fullness after eating that lasts significantly longer than it would without the band. Your surgeon works closely with you to tailor the band adjustment to your needs.
Losing weight after adjustable gastric band surgery is more gradual than with gastric bypass; the amount of weight you lose depends on how you adapt and maintain new eating habits, engage in regular exercise, and follow up with your care team.
What If I Need Weight Loss Surgery Again?
Revisional surgery is an option for some people who have already undergone a weight loss procedure and need another one to repair the first one, or for those who have gained weight or have not lost enough weight after the first operation. NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist surgeons are among the most experienced in the region offering these procedures. Most often, patients need a revision surgery to convert an older weight loss procedure to a more modern, effective one.