Many people today are affected by obesity— sometimes weighing more than 100 pounds over their ideal weight. Obesity can cause very serious health problems, like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), sleep apnea, respiratory illness, depression, and more. Obesity can also cause women to suffer from menstrual irregularity and even infertility. Recently, obesity has been linked to increase risk of developing certain cancers and even earlier death.

There are many causes of obesity. Diet and exercise may not always fix the problem. If you’ve tried diet and exercise without success, perhaps now is the time to consider a different tool. Metabolic surgery (also known as Bariatric Surgery) is an under-utilized tool that has been proven to work and is often overlooked.

Long-term studies show that metabolic or bariatric surgery can result in significant long-term weight loss, leading to improved heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), sleep apnea, as well as mental health. These operations take an hour to complete and use minimally invasive incisions with minimal post-operative pain. Hospital stay is less than 2 days and return to work is within 2 weeks.

At Hackensack Meridian Health, our expert physicians have extensive experience performing all types of weight loss surgery. We understand that each patient has a unique medical history and individual care requirements. Our team approach means that every patient receives the highest level of care, before, during, and after surgery. We provide each patient with personal attention and expert guidance to make their surgery—and their journey toward a new, healthier life—a success.

Finding a weight-loss procedure that’s right for you

Gastric Bypass

This procedure is considered the gold standard of weight-loss surgery. It is the most commonly performed bariatric procedure in the world. In this surgery, a small stomach pouch is created by dividing the top of the stomach from the rest of the stomach. Then, the first part of the small intestine is divided and the bottom end of the divided small intestine is connected to the newly-created small stomach pouch. Finally, the top portion of the divided small intestine is connected to the small intestine further down so that stomach acids and digestive enzymes from the bypassed stomach and first portion of the small intestine eventually mix with food.

The newly-created stomach pouch is much smaller, which means that it is possible to eat smaller meals and consume fewer calories. Because the smaller stomach absorbs less food and there is also a segment of small intestine that no longer has food going through it, fewer calories and nutrients may be absorbed. The rerouting of the food system produces changes in the hormones that make you feel fuller and less hungry. Many people who undergo this procedure who have obesity-induced Type 2 diabetes find that the condition is reversed after surgery.

Lap Band Surgery

In this procedure, a band is placed around the upper portion of the stomach. This creates a small stomach pouch above the band and the rest of the stomach below the band. With a smaller stomach pouch, a smaller amount of food will give you a feeling of fullness. The full feeling depends on the size of the opening between the pouch and the rest of the stomach. The size of the stomach opening can be adjusted by filling the band with sterile saline, placed through a port under the skin. The size of the opening is gradually reduced over time with additional adjustments. After this procedure, food is digested and absorbed normally. This procedure seems to reduce hunger and as a result, the amount of calories that are consumed.

Sleeve Gastrectomy

This procedure is also known as the Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy. It is done by removing about 80 percent of the stomach. The remaining portion of the stomach is a tube-shaped pouch that looks like a banana. The procedure works two ways. First, the amount of food (and calories) that can be consumed is reduced because the stomach is so much smaller. Second, the surgery has an effect on the hormones that control factors including hunger, feeling full, and blood sugar. Some studies show that this procedure is as effective as the gastric bypass in terms of weight loss and improvement in Type 2 diabetes.

To learn more about our services, contact us through our online form or find a Bariatric Center of Excellence near you.