People with severe obesity and weight-related health problems may need weight-loss surgery. It is not the first way obesity is treated. Diet, lifestyle changes, and counseling will be tried first. People who do have surgery will still need to make diet and lifestyle changes.

Adjustable Gastric Banding Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

Surgery may be done using open surgery or using small incisions. The most common surgeries are:

• Restrictive surgeries that limit food intake:
  • Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (AGB)—uses a hollow band around the stomach to make a small pouch
  • Vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG)—removes a large portion of the stomach
  • Vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG)—uses staples and a band to create a small pouch (not as common)
  • Intragastric balloon—a balloon is placed in the stomach and filled with saline
• Malabsorptive surgeries that limit food absorption:
  • Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RGB)—uses staples to create a small pouch that is attached to the small intestine so it bypasses the rest of the stomach
  • Biliopancreatic diversion (BPD)—removes parts of the stomach to create a small pouch that is connected to the small intestine so it bypasses the upper part of the small intestine

Gastric Bypass Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.