Most procedures are done laparoscopically, using several small incisions placed on your abdomen. Surgical instruments are inserted through these incisions for the procedure. The benefits of laparoscopic surgery include less post-operative pain, fewer complications such as infection, internal hernias and adhesions, and less scarring.

The diagram at right shows sample incision locations, but the incision locations, number of incisions, and the incision size may vary from one surgeon to another.

Adjustable Banded Gastroplasty (Lap-Band®) can help you lose weight by limiting portion sizes. This is a purely restrictive procedure that may allow you to lose up to 60-70% of your excess weight over 2-3 years. A band is placed around the top portion of your stomach to create a small pouch above the band. This pouch holds a few tablespoons of food, which passes slowly through the narrow opening at the bottom of the pouch. By holding such a small amount of food, you feel full quickly, and don’t eat as much or as often.

Illustration of an adjustable gastric band, or Lap-Band®

Gastric Bypass can help you lose weight by limiting portion sizes and caloric content of the food you eat. Gastric Bypass also changes how your body absorbs, or digests food. The combination of limited portion sizes, caloric content, and altered digestion will allow potential loss of 70-80% or more of your excess weight within 1-2 years. Part of the stomach is closed off with staples to create a small pouch, thereby limiting how much you can eat at once. In addition, the part of the small intestine is rerouted and attached to the small pouch so that food bypasses the rest of the stomach and small intestine, creating less absorption of calories.