You’ve tried diet and exercise, but nothing you’ve done has helped you lose weight. If you’re now thinking about bariatric surgery, it’s important that you understand your weight loss surgery options.
Gastric bypass surgery (stomach stapling) is a type of plastic surgery during which the plastic surgeon staples the stomach in order to make it smaller. The smaller stomach pouch is then connected to the lower part of the small intestine, allowing food to bypass part of the intestine. The result is that you feel full when eating less and you absorb less calories.
Gastric bypass surgery is sometimes done through tiny incisions in the stomach. A small camera is inserted through the incisions and used to guide the surgeon’s movements. This procedure is known as laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery.
Lap band surgery is similar to traditional gastric bypass in that the stomach is made smaller by creating a small pouch. Instead of staples, an inflatable band is used to cinch the upper part of the stomach so that you can’t eat as much at one setting. However, the intestine is not bypassed during lap band surgery, so you will absorb the calories you do eat.
When recovering from weight loss surgery, you’ll need to wear a bariatric compression garment for the first few weeks. Options for bariatric recovery garments include abdominal binders, compressions girdles, body shaper briefs, mid-calf body shapers, mid-thigh body shapers, and ankle-length body shapers.
Weight loss surgery recovery time will depend on the type of bariatric surgery you have. Ask your plastic surgeon which type of weight loss surgery is right for you.

