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4 most common types of weight loss surgery

Find out what to expect from bariatric surgery, including gastric bypass, lap band, sleeve gastrectomy and intragastric balloon, if you just can’t lose weight.

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If you’ve done your best to exercise regularly and stick to a healthy diet but still have a substantial amount of weight to lose, weight loss surgery may be for you. Bariatric surgery is a catchall term for operations that limit stomach size and/or food absorption. If you have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or greater, you could be a candidate.

A 2013 study in BMJ Show More

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Before Surgery: Preparation

To prep for surgery, candidates often undergo an evaluation to ensure that they understand the process, are mentally ready for the procedure and are prepared to accept the dietary and lifestyle changes needed post-surgery to maintain weight loss. They must also have a support system in place toShow More

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After Surgery: Time Off to Heal

After weight loss surgery, many people experience discomfort. Hospital stays are usually one to two days. You’ll probably be on a liquid diet for a few weeks to allow your stomach to heal.

A typical weight loss is about a quarter of your body mass, but it depends on the type of surgery and a numberShow More

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The Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

How it works: Have you ever taken a highway bypass around a big city? In a gastric bypass, your food is the car and your stomach is the city. First, doctors staple your stomach into two sections. They then connect the portion that holds food to your small intestine. You’ll eat less food and absorbShow More

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Gastric Banding

How it works: Also known as the Lap-Band (the brand name for the device; Realize Band is another), with this procedure your surgeon places a silicone band around the top of your stomach to, in effect, make it smaller. There’s less space to hold food, but the band makes you feel full faster andShow More

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Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

How it works: While the previous procedures involve artificially reducing stomach size, a sleeve gastrectomy does it for real. In this irreversible procedure, about 80 percent of the stomach is removed, leaving the remaining stomach about the size and shape of a banana. Weight loss occurs becauseShow More

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Intragastric Balloon

How it works: The intragastric balloon falls somewhere between lifestyle changes and other procedures on this list. A balloon is placed in the stomach and then filled with a saline solution, creating a feeling of fullness so that you eat less. Patients learn how to make diet and behavioral changesShow More

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