CONSIDERING WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY? Explore Your Options Before You Decide

Weight loss surgery, or bariatric surgery, is a life-changing procedure that can help you take control of your weight and improve many obesity-related health concerns. But, as with any surgery, it’s important to get answers to your questions before making a decision.

Types Of Weight Loss Surgery

Over the years, there have been many weight loss surgery options. “Initially, there were basically malabsorption procedures that move food toward the colon as quickly as possible, keeping a person's body from absorbing all the food they ate,” said Dr. Laura Choi, bariatric surgeon at Houston Methodist Center for Weight Loss & Bariatric Surgery at Baytown. “Absorbing less food results in fewer calories, but there were malnutrition and organ failure with these procedures.”

“ Then we moved to restrictive surgeries,” Choi added. “Instead of blocking how food is absorbed, the stomach size was reduced. In this option, a person takes in fewer calories because it takes less food for them to feel full.”

Today, the two most widely used weight loss surgery options are:

■ Gastric sleeve, also called a sleeve gastrectomy, is a restrictive procedure.

■ Gastric bypass, also called the roux-en-Y gastric bypass, which is both restrictive and malabsorptive.

GASTRIC SLEEVE VS. GASTRIC BYPASS

During a gastric sleeve procedure, the stomach is reshaped into a narrow tube. “The food goes from the stomach to the intestine normally,” Choi explained. “This purely restrictive weight loss procedure helps a person feel fuller on very small amounts of food.”

The gastric sleeve procedure is a minimally invasive procedure involving four to five small incisions. It also lowers the level of ghrelin, or “hunger hormone,” so you feel less hungry throughout the day. “One drawback is that it is associated more with acid reflux than compared to the bypass,” Choi noted.

During a gastric bypass procedure, the surgeon creates a small gastric pouch, which is divided from the rest of the stomach and then rerouted to the small intestine. “This procedure is a combination of restrictive and malabsorptive, since food is restricted to this small pouch and bypasses the upper intestine,” Choi explained.

The gastric bypass procedure also reduces the hunger hormone and can be performed minimally invasively. It has been shown to help control type 2 diabetes, but it carries additional health risks. “Patients can develop nutrient and vitamin deficiencies, since the upper small intestine is bypassed. It also comes with risks of bowel issues or ulcers,” Choi said.

WHICH OPTION IS BEST?

“The decision of which option would help you meet your health goals involves discussing your weight loss history and evaluating any underlying medical conditions,” Choi emphasized. “Talking with a specialist will help you determine your best option.”

No matter which option you choose, many life changes must be made to lose weight and keep it off. “Adopting a new, healthier lifestyle is key,” Choi noted. “Weight loss surgery is successful as a tool when paired with permanent lifestyle changes that includes eating healthier, hydrating well with water and exercising regularly.” •

Take the Next Step

Interested in talking with an expert about your surgical weight loss options? The bariatric surgeons at Houston Methodist Baytown can help. Schedule an appointment or sign up for an educational webinar at houstonmethodist.org/baytown-bariatric or call 832.667.5673