Types of Surgery
There are many different options available for the treatment of morbid obesity. Medical treatment options may include diet and exercise programs, medications, or behavioral therapy. Unfortunately, in the severely obese patient, these methods often do not provide significant or lasting weight loss. Numerous studies have demonstrated that surgery provides the most effective treatment for morbid obesity. Successful weight loss surgery has been shown to:
- Provide both significant and sustained weight loss
- Improve or resolve most weight-related medical problems
- Increase life expectancy
- Improve the quality of life
- Reduce health care costs
However, weight loss surgery does not guarantee weight loss. Rather, it is a powerful tool that patients may use to help lose weight and improve their health. Successful weight loss requires intense life-long efforts to adopt healthy eating habits and a regular exercise program, as well as regular office visits for long-term follow-up. With the proper motivation and significant lifestyle changes, weight loss surgery patients may lose a significant amount of weight and most patients are able to maintain this weight loss long-term.
The weight loss surgeries performed at Sibley include:
- Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
- Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy
- Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding
- Endoscopic Gastric Balloon
What is laparoscopic surgery?
At Sibley, all of the weight loss surgeries are performed laparoscopically. Laparoscopic surgery is a modern, minimally-invasive surgical technique that uses multiple small (1/4-1/2 inch) incisions, special long-handled instruments, and a small videocamera (laparoscope) to perform abdominal surgery. The abdomen is insufflated with carbon dioxide gas which provides a safe working space, and the procedure is visualized on a video monitor. This is in contrast to traditional “open” abdominal surgery which involves larger incisions and traditional surgical instruments. There are numerous advantages to laparoscopic surgery including:
- Smaller scars
- Less bleeding
- Less post-operative pain
- Shorter hospital stay
- Faster return to work
- Lower overall risk of complications
