We Offer Different Surgeries to Attain Victory Over Obesity
New Life is pleased to offer you a choice of three bariatric surgeries, each with distinct advantages and health-related considerations. We’ll help you choose the treatment best suited to you, mindful of your weight-loss goals and desired lifestyle. Your chances for a “new life” physically and emotionally are excellent!
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
The Roux-en-Y (pronounced rue-n-why) is the most common bariatric surgery
in the U.S. The procedure can be performed laparoscopically or open,
depending on the patient. The Roux-en-Y is mostly restrictive, thereby
providing a full feeling after small amounts of food. Vitamins are necessary
to replenish nutrients that are wasted in the bypass portion of the operation.
By eating less and digesting less, weight loss is achieved with few problems.
Surgery divides the stomach into two parts: A very small upper pouch
and a large, detached bottom portion which no longer assists in digestion.
The upper pouch bypasses the duodenum, or first section of the small
intestine, and connects directly to the jejunum, or middle portion of
the small intestine. Surgery creates a Y-shaped section of the small
intestine which excludes food from the lower stomach and bypasses a portion
of intestine.
Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch (or BPD)
The BPD works primarily by malabsorption. People are able to eat normal
amounts of food with this operation, but waste about 30% of calories
from fat. Therefore, weight loss is virtually effortless. This
operation removes about 3/4 of the stomach. A small stomach pouch is
created, larger than the Roux-en-Y’s, to restrict food intake and
to feel full faster. The stomach pouch is then connected to a small portion
of the duodenum (or first section of the small intestine). Sectioned
and connected to it is the last section of small intestine, the ileum,
creating an “alimentary limb.” The bile and pancreatic digestive
juices move through a separate “bileopancreatic limb,” and
do not reach food until joining up with the alimentary limb, forming
the “common channel.” The result is a shorter gut where a
fraction of calories and nutrients are digested and absorbed. The remainder
passes undigested into the colon and is then eliminated. The BPD typically
provides the greatest amount of long term weight loss. BPD patients must
commit to long term follow-up and be very careful to meet their nutritional
requirements to avoid malnutrition.
Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (or LAP Band)
LAP
Band is the least traumatic and safest of the weight loss procedures.
Performed laparoscopically, it leaves your digestive system intact, so
your body digests and absorbs food normally. Surgery goes quickly with
shorter hospitalization and a faster recovery.
It also can be reversed. LAP Band is purely restrictive, limiting the amount of food consumed and providing the feeling of being full so that patients aren’t hungry.
Surgery involves the placement of a small inflatable silicone band around the uppermost portion of the stomach. The band constricts to form a small pouch, limiting the amount of food ingested and slowing the emptying of food into the stomach.
The size of the pouch opening can be adjusted by injecting or removing saline solution through an access port that lies next to the abdominal wall – a procedure that can be performed in the physician’s office.
LAP Band is the slowest way to lose weight compared to our other procedures, but studies have shown weight loss is comparable after 3 years. So patience is needed to enjoy significant results.