Types of Weight Loss Surgery
Weight loss surgeries, also called bariatric surgeries, help people achieve long-term weight loss. Surgery may help you if you are severely overweight, have weight-related medical problems, or both.
Sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass are the two most common types of weight loss surgery. Both will change the size of your stomach and help reduce your appetite.
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery for Weight Loss
In Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, your surgeon will create a small, one-ounce pouch at the top of your stomach. This pouch is a new, smaller stomach. We also connect this new stomach to the first part of your small intestine.
Surgeons have been performing the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for more than 50 years. This means we have a lot of information about the risks and benefits.
Many patients choose gastric bypass because of heartburn concerns. Many people who are candidates for bariatric surgery struggle with heartburn. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is the only weight loss surgery that can treat heartburn.
Gastric Sleeve Surgery for Weight Loss
Your surgeon will turn your stomach into a long, narrow tube (sleeve) during gastric sleeve surgery. The surgery is also called sleeve gastrectomy.
Gastric sleeve surgery doesn’t reroute your intestines like gastric bypass does. It also doesn’t increase your risk of ulcers or dumping syndrome. But gastric sleeve surgery may cause or worsen heartburn.
Is the Gastric Balloon a Weight Loss Surgery?
The gastric balloon procedure is not a weight loss surgery. We slide a small, thin tube down your throat and place a balloon inside your stomach. The balloon will stay in place for six months. This will temporarily reduce your stomach size so you eat less.
A gastric balloon may be a good option for people with lower body mass indexes (BMIs). A lower BMI may mean you don’t qualify for weight loss surgery.
Weight Loss Surgery Requirements
Weight loss surgery is a highly effective treatment for people who are severely overweight:
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People with a BMI of 35 or higher.
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People with a BMI of 30 or higher with weight-related medical conditions, like diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease.
Please note that some insurance plans may require a BMI of 40 or a BMI of 35 with a related health condition. Check with your insurance provider to learn whether you qualify for surgery.
Your weight loss specialist will usually recommend other weight loss interventions before surgery:
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Diet changes
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Physical activity
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Nonsurgical weight loss procedures, such as the gastric balloon
Surgery could work best for you if these other options don’t work.
Is Weight Loss Surgery Safe?
Surgery is a safe way to lose weight long-term and lower your health risks. Our bariatric surgeons operate through small cuts, so our surgeries are less invasive. We use laparoscopic and robotic techniques. Research shows bariatric surgery has similar risk levels to having your gallbladder removed. Experts consider gallbladder removal as a safe procedure with low complication risks.
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Side Effects of Weight Loss Surgery
All surgeries carry a risk of side effects. People who undergo gastric bypass may have a higher risk of a few side effects.
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Alcohol use disorder: Alcohol absorbs into your bloodstream much faster after gastric bypass.
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Dumping syndrome: Your stomach empties too quickly, which you can usually prevent by avoiding high-sugar foods.
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Ulcers: You can usually avoid them by not smoking or taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Sleeve gastrectomy can increase the risk of heartburn. About 70% of candidates for weight loss surgery already experience heartburn. Increased risk of heartburn may help you decide if a sleeve gastrectomy is best for you.
Our bariatric surgeons will discuss all the risks and benefits of each weight loss surgery with you. They will help you decide which procedure is right for you based on your needs and preferences.
How to Prepare for Weight Loss Surgery
First, you watch a bariatric surgery seminar. In this, you will learn more about bariatric surgery options and benefits. You will undergo a thorough preparation process if you qualify for bariatric surgery:
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You will meet with our exercise physiologist to discuss exercise routines and options.
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Our team’s psychologist will evaluate and support your mental health.
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A sleep evaluation will help if you have sleep apnea or a high risk of sleep problems.
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Dietitians trained in bariatric surgery will educate and counsel you for three months.
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You may have a preoperative endoscopy. This outpatient, nonsurgical procedure lets us examine your esophagus, stomach, and digestive tract. This helps us decide which surgery may work best for you.
Weight Loss After Surgery
Bariatric surgery can help you lose weight permanently. Many patients lose a significant amount of excess body weight, which is the weight above your ideal body weight. Ideal body weight is a standard medical measurement of health.
People who have weight loss surgery can typically expect good results:
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Gastric bypass helps patients lose about 60–80% of their excess body weight.
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Sleeve gastrectomy is a newer procedure than gastric bypass. So, experts have less data on long-term outcomes. But most patients lose about 50% of their excess body weight.
You will lose weight most quickly in the first six months after surgery. Weight loss will gradually slow over the 12–24 months afterward. Physical activity and proper food choices will help you continue to keep the weight off long-term.
Weight Loss Surgery Recovery Time
You will stay in the hospital overnight after a gastric sleeve or gastric bypass surgery. Most people will experience pain for about 5–7 days after surgery.
You will feel more tired than usual for several months after bariatric surgery. People who work from home or have flexible hours may return to work in 1–2 weeks. Those with active or demanding jobs may need three weeks or longer to recover.
Pregnancy After Weight Loss Surgery
Research shows that any weight loss surgery usually increases fertility for men and women. But, specialists recommend that women avoid pregnancy for 1–2 years after bariatric surgery. These two years are a period of rapid weight loss. You have a higher risk of nutritional deficiencies in this period. Those deficiencies could affect your baby.
Weight Loss Surgery Scars
Our surgeons use minimally invasive techniques (laparoscopic or robotic), meaning they operate through tiny incisions. This approach will leave a few scars less than an inch wide along your abdomen.
How Much Does Weight Loss Surgery Cost?
The cost of weight loss surgery depends on your insurance. Our team includes a full-time insurance specialist. The specialist will help you navigate bariatric surgery costs.
You may pay for bariatric surgery yourself if your insurance plan doesn’t cover it or you don’t have insurance. Please contact our program with payment questions.
Does Insurance Cover Weight Loss Surgery?
Many insurance plans cover weight loss surgery. But, some insurance plans have different requirements to cover your surgery. Our insurance specialist will discuss your options with you beforehand.
Why Choose University of Utah Health?
The bariatric surgery program at U of U Health supports you through your entire weight loss journey. We are the most comprehensive program in the Mountain West. You have access to every necessary specialist in one location. Our team includes multiple experts:
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Dietitians with special training in bariatric surgery
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Exercise physiologists
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Psychologists
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Sleep medicine specialists
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An insurance specialist
We also work closely with liver and heart specialists to coordinate every evaluation you need. Our bariatric surgery team uses evidence-based treatments with a record of success. We work hard to help you select the treatment that will provide you with the most satisfaction for the longest time.
Make an Appointment
You will need to attend an informational bariatric surgery seminar before scheduling an appointment with our bariatric surgeons.
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.
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.
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.
Self-Pay Options
If your insurance doesn't cover bariatric surgery, you can pay for it using our self-pay option.
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.
