The Top Five Weight Loss Surgeries and Their Pros and Cons

Everyone’s heard of bariatric surgery – more commonly known as How fast Lose Weight  – by now, and the results have been nothing short of astounding. Studies show that people who undergo weight loss surgery not only lose weight but also see improvements in their overall health and quality of life. 

While bariatric surgery may be an option for some, it’s not something you should consider without fully researching all your options first. Here are the top five weight-loss surgeries, their pros and cons, and what you can expect if you decide to undergo the procedure.

Gastric Sleeve

The gastric sleeve, also known as vertical sleeve gastrectomy, is a surgical procedure in which at least 80 percent of your stomach’s volume is removed via stapling.

•  A new stomach sleeve is created with a much smaller opening, restricting how much food you can eat. 
• You may lose approximately half of your excess weight within six months of surgery, according to About Health.

Gastric Bypass

One of two surgeries, called Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or RNYGB, is considered bariatric surgery’s gold standard.

•  Studies show that patients lose significant amounts of weight after undergoing a Roux-en-Y bypass, achieving an average loss of nearly half their body weight. 
• However, complications occur in over half of all RNYGB patients. For example, about one in three patients develop gallstones within five years after surgery.

Gastric Balloon

A gastric balloon is inserted through a nostril, into your stomach. The purpose of a gastric balloon is to take up space in your stomach and fill you up quickly, reducing hunger. 

• You will need to periodically refill your balloon with a saline solution that’s injected through an attached tube (just like an IV). 
• Many doctors recommend combining surgery with lifestyle changes such as dieting, exercise, and behavioral modification for optimal results.

Lap Band Surgery

If you’re looking for one of the safest, fastest ways to lose weight, lap band surgery may be your best bet. 

The device is placed around your stomach like a belt (thus lap band), after which a small balloon inflates inside of it; you can adjust how much it’s inflated by adding or removing saline solution.

Revision Surgery

This procedure is a minor revision or alteration of an existing bariatric surgery. Revision surgeries include a gastric sleeve.

•  sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, gastroplasty, adjustable gastric band (AGB), biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD-DS), and removal of the restriction device.
•  Compared to primary bariatric surgery, revision surgeries have lower complication rates but are more expensive.