Many factors go into deciding which surgery is best for you and your physician will work closely with you to help you decide.  You are also encouraged to do outside research:  attend support groups, talk with others who have undergone surgery, meet with our dietitian. The comparison table below may help you decide as well.

Comparing Surgical Weight Loss Procedures

	Gastric Bypass	LAP-BAND®	Sleeve Gastrectomy
Procedure	Complex operation involving multiple areas of the abdomen; changes normal process of digestion Not reversible	Minimally invasive procedure; no stomach stapling, cutting or intestinal re-routing Reversible	Laparoscopic; leaves stomach openings intact so digestion occurs normally Not reversible
Implanted Device	No significant hardware in body	Requires implanted medical device	No significant hardware in body
Advantages	Improvement in comorbid conditions Rapid initial weight loss Slightly increased total weight loss	Improvement in comorbid conditions Lower risk of surgical complications Lower risk of malnutrition No Dumping Syndrome1 Lowest mortality rate	Improvement in comorbid conditions Suited for patients with health conditions that do not make them good candidates for other weight loss surgeries Lower risk of surgical complications Lower risk of malnutrition No Dumping Syndrome1
Risks or Complications	Standard risk of surgery (bleeding, infection, adverse risk of anesthesia) Nausea, vomiting Deficiency in mineral absorption, requiring long-term supplements  Staple leakage or separation requiring minor revision surgery Dumping Syndrome1 Gastritis, gall stones	Standard risk of surgery (bleeding, infection, adverse risk of anesthesia) Nausea, vomiting Possible nutritional deficiencies due to decreased intake; long term supplements may be recommended Band may slip or erode, reducing effectiveness Access port may leak, requiring minor correction surgery	Standard risk of surgery (bleeding, infection, adverse risk of anesthesia) Nausea, vomiting Possible nutritional deficiencies due to decreased intake; long term supplements may be recommended Staple leakage or separation requiring minor revision surgery Deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, gall stones
Hospital Stay	48-72 hours	24-48 hours	24-48 hours
Recovery	Normal activity within one week; full recovery within two to three weeks	Normal activity within one week; full recovery within two to three weeks	Normal activity within one week; full recovery within two to three weeks
Follow-Up	Regular follow-up to track progress	Regular follow-up and adjustments necessary for best results	Regular follow-up to track progress
Weight Loss	Rapid weight loss over 3-6 months, settling at final weight 18-24 months after surgery	Slow and steady weight loss, settling at final weight around two years after surgery	About 50% of desired weight loss within two years; about 80% of desired weight loss at about three years. May require additional malabsorptive procedure to achieve total weight loss goal.
1An intolerance to sugars, fats and some carbohydrates frequently developed after gastric bypass.  Patients may experience nausea, flashing and sweating, light-headedness and watery diarrhea. These risks can be significantly reduced by following your dietitian’s guidelines very carefully, especially during the first two months after surgery.

Disclaimer:  As with any surgery, there are certain risks and complications associated with these procedures.  Please talk to your doctor about your individual risk and candidacy for bariatric surgery.