Which surgery is right for you?

The type of surgery you choose is not only a very personal decision that should be discussed between you and your family, but also one that requires the professional expertise and knowledge of your surgeon. Surgery to promote weight loss is a serious undertaking, and patients who have had surgery require close monitoring as well as life-long use of special foods and medications.

Weight loss surgery has shown to be an effective tool in weight loss, but it's only a tool. No method, including surgery, guarantees to produce and maintain weigh loss. Success is possible only with your fullest cooperation and commitment to behavioral change and medical follow-up.

Easton Hospital offers and is experienced in laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, laparoscopic gastric bypass, laparoscopic sleeve gastrecomy as well as revionsary surgery for previous failed weight loss surgeries.

As with any surgical procedure, weight loss surgery may present risks. Ask your referring physician or a bariatric surgeon if weight loss surgery is right for you.

Minimally Invasive Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery

During a minimally invasive laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, our surgeons will make several small incisions instead of one large incision (as in open gastric bypass surgery). Through the small incisions, they will insert their instruments, as well as a tube with a tiny camera (called a laparoscope) attached to the end which projects images onto a screen in the operating room. By carefully moving the camera around and watching the screen, our surgeons can see the patient's inner organs and the area in they are operating. Laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery requires extreme technical precision and accuracy, but our surgeons are highly respected for their experience in minimally invasive and laparoscopic surgery techniques. Performing bariatric procedures laparoscopically greatly decreases the risk of complications and allows the patient to recover more quickly and comfortably.

Benefits of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery

• Decreased appetite: Post-bariatric surgery patients report feeling full sooner, since the smaller stomach pouch doesn't hold as much food as before the surgery. Some patients lose their fixation on food.
• Rapid weight loss: A severe cut in caloric intake, coupled with decreased cravings for fatty, sugary foods and limited nutrient absorption causes patients to lose excess weight quickly and maintain a lower weight.

Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding Procedure (AGB)

The AGB is a restrictive only operation. A silicone band with an incorporated, inflatable balloon is placed around the upper portion of the stomach. A port is attached to the band via a plastic tube and secured below the skin. The level of restriction is adjusted by accessing the port with a needle in the office.

The procedure reduces the amount of food that can be eaten at one time. The band wraps around the upper part of the stomach, dividing the stomach into a small upper pouch that holds about 1/2 cup of food and a larger lower stomach. As a result, you'll feel fuller sooner and stay fuller longer. It allows for normal digestion and absorption.

Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

The laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is also a restrictive procedure which removes part of the stomach, therefore limiting its capacity. During the sleeve gastrectomy procedure, a thin vertical sleeve of stomach is created using a stapling device. The rest of the stomach is removed. The sleeve is about the size of a banana. After the operation, patients have a feeling of early satiety (fullness), resulting in decreased calorie consumption and improved weight loss. Sleeve gastrectomy allows for normal digestion and absorption.