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What Weight Loss Surgery Is Best For Me?

Deciding on your surgical weight loss treatment is personal and varies from person to person. Before your surgery we will help you learn about the surgical options available so that you can choose the best surgery for your needs.

At University of Utah Health, we offer two bariatric surgery options:

  1. Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
  2. Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

Surgery can be performed with open (traditional) or minimally invasive techniques.

  • During open surgery, your surgeon will make an incision (cut) in your midline from below your breastbone to your belly button or beyond.
  • During minimally invasive (laparoscopic) surgery, your surgeon will make a number of small cuts using a long, thin scope (camera) and other tools.

Learn more about minimally invasive surgery.

Comparing Surgeries: Gastric Bypass & Sleeve Gastrectomy

Deciding what weight loss surgery is best for you will depend on your recovery and weight loss goals.

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

  • Surgery Length: About two to two-and-a-half hours
  • Hospital Stay: Two to three days
  • Recovery Time: Two weeks on average

How many follow-up visits will I need?: You will need to see your surgeon or physician assistant for a follow-up five times a year for the first year after your gastric bypass. After that, you will need to see your bariatric surgery provider once a year for a follow-up appointment.

Is the procedure reversible?: A gastric bypass surgery is difficult to reverse.

How quickly will I lose weight?: Patients who have gastric bypass surgery lose weight faster than patients who get adjustable gastric banding. Of all the different types of weight loss surgeries, patients lose the most weight on average and maintain their weight loss after gastric bypass.

What are the side effects?: Gastric bypass surgery treats heartburn. If you eat large amounts of sugar, you may also have dumping syndrome after getting a gastric bypass. You may also have diarrhea, cramps, and sweating, and your body may have a higher chance of having nutrition deficiencies if you don't take vitamin supplements.

Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

  • Surgery Length: One and a half hours to two hours
  • Hospital Stay: One to two days
  • Recovery Time: Two weeks on average

How many follow-up visits will I need?: You will need 5 visits with your surgeon or physician assistant during the first year after your surgery; after that, you will need to make an appointment with your bariatric surgery provider once each year.

Is the procedure reversible?: No, sleeve gastrectomy is not reversible.

How quickly will I lose weight?: After having a sleeve gastrectomy, most patients lose weight faster than with adjustable gastric banding; generally falls between gastric bypass and gastric banding.

What are the side effects?: Sleeve gastrectomy may cause heartburn. But there's no dumping syndrome after the procedure, and you also have a lower chance of having malabsorption and nutrient deficiencies.

Find a Bariatric Surgeon

Start the Process

Do I Qualify for Bariatric Surgery?

Bariatric surgery isn't for people who are mildly overweight. Instead, it's for severely obese people who are 100 pounds or more overweight and their health is at risk.

Learn If You Qualify

What Weight Loss Surgery Is Best For Me?

There are several types of bariatric surgery. Choosing the best surgery for you will depend on your weight loss goals and preferences.

Learn About Surgery Options

Start the Process

If you're thinking about weight loss surgery, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. We help make the process as easy as possible.

Start the Bariatric Surgery Process

Self-Pay Options

If your insurance doesn't cover bariatric surgery, you can pay for it using our self-pay option.

Learn About Our Self-Pay Options

Patient Portal

Are you a current patient? Login to our patient portal to view your medical records and post-surgery instructions.

Login to Our Patient Portal

Meet Our Patients

Finding a New Quality of Life after Gastric Bypass Surgery

“It has been a hard road, but it has been the best thing I ever did for myself.” This is how DeAnn Barfuss describes the emotional weight loss journey she embarked upon two years ago after deciding to undergo gastric bypass surgery.

Hear From Our Specialists