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If you are interested in the gastric bypass or lap band surgery to get control of your weight and health problems, you should consider the benefits provided from each weight loss surgery versus the risks of complications during and following bariatric surgery. Usually, the majority of the risks occur during the surgery itself making it very important that you choose the safest, most effective long-term weight loss surgery available today.
Both gastric bypass and lap band surgery provide significant health benefits through proven long-term weight loss. Not only are health conditions and diseases such as diabetes (type-II), hypertension and sleep apnea improved or eliminated, the effect of weight loss on your quality of life and mental well-being is priceless.
Having weight loss surgery is a life-changing decision and seeking advice from a medical professional such as your primary care physician is recommended. Your doctor or healthcare specialist will be able to provide advice on each weight loss surgery to determine whether gastric bypass or lap band surgery is right for you.
The three types of weight loss surgery are malabsorptive procedures which shorten the digestive tract, restrictive procedures that reduce how much the stomach can hold, and combined procedures that perform both bariatric weight loss techniques.
Gastric Bypass is both a restrictive and malabsorptive procedure that has been performed worldwide for over 35 years. Gastric bypass involves cutting and stapling a small piece of the stomach so that it becomes separate from the other portion.
This area acts as a new, smaller stomach with the rest being restricted permanently. The top of the small intestine is then severed completely with the stapling device with the ends of the intestine routed to the smaller stomach pouch. The other end is attached to the small intestine so that the digestive liquids from the liver, gallbladder, duodenum and pancreas can process food.

Lap Band Surgery is minimally invasive restrictive procedure requiring no stomach stapling or re-routing of internal organs. The LAP-BAND consists of a silicone ring that is placed around the top of the stomach. Inside the LAP-BAND is an inner balloon which connects to the access port through a small tube.
The access port is placed deep under the skin on the left-hand side of the stomach and is adjusted with a shot of saline solution that tightens or loosens the band according to personal weight loss goals. This fluid regulates the amount of satiety (feeling of fullness) and satiation (feeling satisfied after meals) felt by the patient.


Weight Loss Surgery Risks & Benefits

Gastric Bypass
Risks:*

• Rapid weight loss typically leaving excess skin and scarring
• Stomach stretches over time causing some to regain weight after a several years
• Portion of digestive track is bypassed, reducing absorption of essential nutrients
• Lung Problems: pneumonia, blood clot
• Bowel blockage
• Leakage of bowel contents into abdomen
• Nausea, vomiting, transient/temporary hair loss, food intolerances, loss of muscle mass
• Mortality: Approximately 2% of gastric bypass patients die as a result of the bariatric surgery
• Cutting and stapling of stomach and re-routing of intestines required
• Bleeding, blood transfusion
• Less than desired weight loss
• More than desired weight loss
• Possible birth defects related to vitamin and mineral deficiencies of mother

Benefits:
Typically cures or prevents the following health conditions and diseases.

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Asthma
• Respiratory insufficiency (shortness of breath)
• Sleep apnea
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD, acid reflux, heartburn)
• Stress urinary incontinence
• Low back pain and degenerative disk disease and degenerative joint disease

LAP-BAND Surgery (Gastric Banding)
Risks:*

• Slippage (occurred in 2% of patients - reverting to liquid diet for up to 5 days known prevention technique)
• Pouch Enlargement (12% of patients - regular after care allows early diagnosis & prevention)
• Erosion (very rare, band works into the stomach - remedied by band removal, time to heal & replacement)
• Infection (rare, occurs in band or port - remedied by band removal, time to heal & replacement)
• Nausea (typically short-term - many patients have problems keeping food down if they eat too fast)
• Risk of Mortality (national mortality rate is .05% - approximately 10x safer then the gastric bypass)
• Nausea, vomiting, temporary hair loss, food intolerances, loss of muscle mass

Benefits:

• Adjustable, customized for weight loss goals
• No additional surgery required to optimize weight loss
• Safe for pregnancy allowing patient to eat more while pregnant
• Widely used around the world
• Simpler operation gives lower risk of surgery
• Gradual, healthy weight loss allowing skin to adjust more appropriately
• Reversible, stomach can completely return to normal size and function if necessary for any medical condition
• No dumping syndrome (intolerance to carbohydrates or sugars) reported
• Resolves high blood pressure and cholesterol
• Cures asthma and respiratory insufficiency (shortness of breath)
• Can prevent or reverse obstructive sleep apnea
• Cures gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD, acid reflux, heartburn)
• Alleviates low back pain and degenerative disk disease and degenerative joint disease