Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric surgeries, also called weight loss surgeries, are surgical operations intended to help people with obesity lose weight. These procedures modify the stomach and sometimes the small intestine to regulate calorie consumption. Bariatric surgery can treat high cholesterol, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, obstructive sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, non-alcohol related fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or cancer. To have a bariatric procedure, the patient must fall within the class III of obesity.

Types of Bariatric Surgery

Gastric sleeve:

This is the most common procedure in the U.S., and it removes 80% of the stomach. This reduces the amount of food the patient can consume and reduces hunger hormones to stabilize metabolism, decreasing appetite and blood sugar.

Gastric bypass:

A small pouch at the top of the stomach is separated from the lower portion, then the small intestine is divided and brought up to connect to the stomach pouch. When food is consumed, it will now flow through the new, smaller stomach and lower segment of the small intestine, bypassing the rest. This restricts how much your stomach can hold.

Post Procedure

A laparoscopic gastric sleeve takes approximately 60 minutes, and a gastric bypass (also called Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or RYGB) takes approximately 120 minutes.

Following your surgery, you will be transported to recovery, where you will be monitored for 1-2 hours until you are fully awake. Then, you will be moved to your inpatient room for 1-3 days, depending on the surgery. You will be encouraged to take fluids, get up and move about as soon as possible. You will also be provided with compression stockings to help with circulation.  

Your formula for success:  

• Eat three protein-centered meals a day—solid protein is best (the goal is 50-60 gm each day). 
• Avoid snacking. 
• Drink 64 ounces of liquid daily—water is best. 
• Take your vitamins every day as recommended starting at your 1-week post-op visit. 
• Exercise daily, working up to a goal of 150 minutes/week. You must move to maintain long-term weight loss. Maintaining strong muscles will help with metabolism and prevent weight gain. 
• Don’t smoke. If you smoked and stopped for surgery, NEVER smoke again. Smoking contributes to poor surgical outcomes and can lead to ulcers in your new stomach, even months to years after surgery. 
• Take time to celebrate yourself! Celebrate the goals you achieve, whether they are weight-loss goals or non-weight-loss goals. You are the one on this journey to a healthier you. You are making the changes in your life. Pat yourself on the back, look in the mirror and congratulate yourself. Treat yourself to a nonfood reward when you reach goals along the journey.