Obesity poses a significant risk of developing many life-threatening diseases. Obesity surgery is usually considered as the best treatment option for patients who have failed to respond to non-surgical weight loss strategies like diet, medication and exercises. Obesity surgery promotes weight loss by decreasing the amount of food your stomach can hold, limiting absorption of nutrients in the intestine, as well as changing the body’s hormonal response that drives hunger and weight gain.

The decision to undergo bariatric surgery for a patient is usually a very big step. It is however also a demonstration of their commitment to change.

Common bariatric (weight loss) operations include:

LAPAROSCOPIC SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY

This procedure involves removing approximately 80% of the stomach by turning it into a narrow tube or sleeve. This reduces the size of the stomach and limits the amount of food intake.

LAPAROSCOPIC GASTRIC BYPASS

This procedure involves stapling off a large section of the stomach which leaves behind a small pouch. A section of the small bowel is attached to this newly formed pouch allowing the food to bypass the lower stomach and some of the small intestine, leading to weight loss.