Which Procedure is
Right for You?
There’s no one right procedure for anyone. So figure out what’s right for you by talking to a doctor and reading what’s below.
Which procedure is right for you?
There are 3 classes of effective weight loss surgeries:
Each of these surgeries makes the stomach smaller and will induce hormonal changes so a patient feels more full after eating less food. Some procedures affect the way the body absorbs calories and nutrients on top of restricting the size of the stomach. There are several procedures that fall into these categories. The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric surgery approves only 6 safe and effective procedures.
Gastric Bypass (Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y)
Duodenal Switch (Biliopancreatic diversion). The Duodenal Switch can be modified into the Stomach Intestinal Pylorus Sparing Surgery (SIPS), a type of gastric bypass
Gastric sleeve
Adjustable Gastric Banding
Preoperative Procedures
Open procedures as deemed appropriate by the surgeon
Reoperative bariatric weight loss surgery is any kind of surgery designed to revise the results of other procedures that resulted in complications or insufficient weight loss. Open procedures refer to any procedure where the body is opened up with a large incision, as you may have seen in TV or movie depictions of surgery.
Dr. Rao’s expertise allows him to operate laparoscopically (minimally invasive) with just 4-5 (0.5 to 1 cm) incisions. Minimally invasive techniques offer shorter operative times, shorter lengths of stay, and fewer complications. The small incision also means less scarring post-surgery and a lower likelihood of infection. However, laparoscopic surgery is not appropriate for every patient, and in some cases, surgeons will not know if they can perform the procedure laparoscopically until the surgery is underway. Various medical conditions may make laparoscopic surgery unsafe for certain patients.
The adjustable gastric band, gastric sleeve, and the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass are the most common procedures in Australia. However, gastric bypass (including Roux-en-Y), SIPS, and sleeve gastrectomy usually result in the most weight loss and lowest rates of reoperation. Nevertheless, no one procedure is strictly better than the others.
Each procedure offers different options, rates of weight-loss, risks, lengths of stay in the clinic, recovery instructions, exercise considerations, and nutritional considerations.
So how do you know which procedure is right for you?
All the procedures require you to have had unsuccessful attempts at non-surgical weight loss treatments
All the procedures require you to make lifestyle changes such as changes to eating habits after surgery
All the procedures require you to not have an alcohol addiction