Obesity Surgery Center

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GASTRIC BYPASS - The Gastric Bypass is designed to be a permanent procedure which will alter the patient's ability to intake food and also decrease the efficiency by which a person absorbs the components of the food.

Performed laparoscopically, using six small incisions in the abdomen as opposed to the traditional open method of one large incision.

LAPAROSCOPIC VERTICAL SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY - Laparoscopic vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) is a new restrictive procedure that can be an alternative to gastric banding, with no foreign body implantation. It can be done as a standalone procedure, or as a stage procedure for high risk patients. Typically, the expected weight loss is approximately 45 50% of excess body weight, which is comparable to the gastric banding (Lap Band).

LAP BAND - The Lap Band System uses an inflatable tube inside a ring that is placed around the stomach. A small port is inserted just beneath the skin of the abdomen where saline can be injected or withdrawn, making the opening through which food will pass smaller or larger. Frequent adjustments are necessary to obtain the proper amount of restriction.

LAPAROSCOPIC VERSUS OPEN - This procedure can be done in the traditional "open" method or laparoscopically. The "open" method uses one long incision in the abdomen. The laparoscopic method uses six small (1-2cm) incisions in the abdomen.

The laparoscopic approach offers the patient decreased pain, decreased healing time and a decreased chance of developing a hernia following the surgery. In addition, patients usually return to work and normal activities MUCH sooner than with the "open" method.