Bariatric Surgery
Surgical Options
The WVU Bariatric program offers a minimally invasive laparoscopic approach as well as traditional "open" surgery if needed. The minimally invasive approach consists of a few small incisions. Not all patients are candidates for minimally invasive surgery. At your first appointment the surgeon will assess which approach suits you best.
Weight loss surgery is major surgery, yet safe and effective. It is not a cosmetic operation. You should consider it to be permanent. That is why you should make the decision only after careful consideration and consultation with an experienced bariatric surgeon or a knowledgeable family physician.
- Roux-en -Y Gastric Bypass According to the American Society of Bariatric Surgery and the National Institutes of Health, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is the current gold standard procedure for weight loss surgery.[ n this procedure, stapling creates a small (15-30cc) stomach pouch. The outlet from this newly formed pouch bypasses most of the stomach and several feet of the small intestine, preventing your body from absorbing all the calories and nutrients from the foods you eat. By combining the smaller stomach and the malabsorption feature, this surgery produces more weight loss than operations that only decrease the intake of food. The malabsorption of nutrients–especially calcium, iron, and Vitamin Bl2–can be managed through proper diet and vitamin supplements.
- Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (Lap Band) This procedure limits food intake using an adjustable band that is placed around the top part of the stomach to create a small pouch. The size of the band is adjusted using a port placed under the skin. Adjusting the band changes how quickly food leaves the new pouch. This is one of the least invasive approaches to weight loss surgery because no permanent changes are made to the body's physiology. The stomachs stays intact and the digestive process remains the same.
- Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy This procedure decreases food intake through surgical removal of approximately 60% of the stomach. Sleeve gastrectomy, also known as vertical gastrectomy, can be utilized as a stand-alone procedure for weight loss. It is sometimes used as a preliminary procedure in patients with very high BMI to render them fit for a more definitive second-stage operation (gastric bypass).
