Bariatric Procedure Resources
We know that there’s a lot to think about when considering a bariatric procedure and a lot of noise out there. Maybe you got a recommendation from a doctor – or from our personalized assessment. Maybe you saw a positive story online – or heard a negative one from a colleague. We’re here to provide you information – whether you’re just starting you’re journey or looking for help along the way.
Before your procedure
Day of your procedure
After your procedure
What is a Bariatric Procedure?
Bariatric or metabolic procedures involve removing a part of the stomach and sometimes changing the intestine. All of these procedures are currently performed minimally invasively, meaning the procedure is performed using a few small cuts with a camera without any big cuts. These minimally invasive procedures are done laparoscopically or with robotics, leading to less pain and faster recovery.
Sleeve
- ~60% reduction in excess weight
- Involves cutting 75-80% of stomach out
- Shortest procedure time
- Restricts food
- Changes hormonal signal
Roux-en-y Gastric Bypass
- ~70% reduction in excess weight
- Involves creating a new smaller stomach and re-arranging intestine, “bypassing” majority of stomach and apart of intestine
- Works particularly well for those with Type 2 Diabetes and Reflux
- Restricts food
- Changes hormonal signal
- Reduces absorption
Duodinal Switch
- ~70% reduction in excess weight
- Involves making smaller stomach and rearranging intestines
- Works particularly well for those with Type 2 Diabetes
- Restricts food
- Changes hormonal signal
- Reduces absorption
Why do bariatric procedures work?
We've all heard "calories in and calories out" and while calorie consumption and energy expenditure do affect weight, it's often more complicated than that.
Our weight is driven by a combination of factors – including things we control…and things that are beyond our control. And, sometimes, behaviors that seems simple are actually quite complex.
For example, food choices we make are partially in our control, but they are also affected by our hormones and genetics, which are out of our control. Simply said, your genetics play a big part in obesity. We still have a lot to learn about obesity – but we do now that the genetic and hormonal makeup of someone with obesity is not the same as that of someone without obesity. In addition to genetics, environmental factors, such as sleep and stress levels, can affect obesity.
A traditional diet focuses on exerting control, but that can often increase stress and hunger, making it more challenging to lose weight. We eat less, but our bodies want to eat more. A bariatric procedure restricts the amount of food that can be consumed and reduces the body's "set point," meaning that we are naturally less hungry. Bariatric procedure patients have less ghrelin - "the hunger hormone" in their systems post procedure. After a metabolic procedure, we eat less because our bodies crave less food.
