Surgical options
Essentially there are two types of weight loss operations - restrictive operations and malabsorptive operations.
Restrictive procedures limit the intake of food by reducing the size of the functional stomach to a small pouch. The pouch fills quickly after eating and eliminates the feeling of hunger. It also empties slowly, maintaining satiety (the feeling of fullness) and thereby removing the urge to eat. There is no effect on absorption of food. Weight loss is achieved through consistently reduced food intake. Examples of restrictive operations include vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). The Swedish Adjustable Gastric Band (SAGB) is an example of this procedure.
Malabsorptive procedures involve surgically bypassing part of the digestive component of the intestine so that food is not absorbed but instead eliminated in the stool. Examples of malabsorptive procedures include the biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) and duodenal switch operations.
Some procedures work by both restrictive and malabsorptive methods. An example of this is a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass operation.
Each of these operations carries it’s own advantages, disadvantages and risks. These should be discussed with your surgeon. Some operations such as LAGB and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass are able to be performed using minimally invasive surgical techniques (laparoscopy) while others require open surgery.
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