And as a result of these complications and the nature of the band itself (see next section) an increasing number of patients are undergoing gastric band removal, opting out of having the procedure to begin with or having the band removed and undergoing a second, more “traditional” weight loss procedure such as gastric sleeve or classic Roux-en Y gastric bypass.

The Banding Procedure

This is a “laparoscopic” surgery so named because of the camera – called a “laparoscope” – that is used to allow the surgeon to see inside your midsection throughout the procedure. Prior to the procedure you may be advised to adopt a gastric band pre-op diet although that will be determined on an individual basis. On the day of the procedure you will receive a general anesthesia, meaning you will be asleep during the gastric band operation and unable to feel anything. Once you are properly anesthetized, surgery will begin.

There are 3 primary alternatives to gastric band surgery and we would recommend any of them over banding for all the reasons already enumerated above. Still, simply saying something is better isn’t much good unless we explain what those procedures are and what makes them the popular, highly regarded surgical weight loss solutions they are today. So without further ado let’s take a look at what we consider to be the 3 alternate “right things”.

When weighing gastric band or bypass the discussion starts with what is considered by many to be the gold standard of weight loss procedures: Roux-en Y gastric bypass. This is a procedure with a long history that evolved from other, unrelated procedures to become the go-to weight loss surgery in hospitals and clinics around the world.

During the procedure a small pouch is carved out of the upper portion of the existing stomach where it attaches to the esophagus. This new smaller stomach will impose a limit on how much the person can eat. Once the stomach has been modified the upper portion of the small intestine is divided with the end that leads to the large intestine attached directly to the new stomach pouch. This provides a direct path for food products from the new pouch to the intestines where nutrients will be absorbed. The large portion of the stomach is left in place and the portion of the intestine connected to it is reconnected to the new intestinal path further down. This enables digestive juices to be drained from the large, now unused portion of the stomach.

Roux-en Y gastric bypass works in much the same way most bariatric surgeries work: by limiting the amount a person can eat. Less food equals fewer calories equals lost weight. Also because the newly redesigned stomach pouch is so small and the active portion of the newly reconfigured intestine shorter than it was previously fewer calories and nutrients are absorbed by the body and again, you lose weight. As a bonus rerouting the digestive process in such a way alters the balance of hormones in the stomach and promotes a sense of satiety while suppressing hunger. It’s a procedure that has proven its effectiveness and safety countless times over the decades since it was first introduced.

Gastric bypass advantages include:

• Patients can reasonably expect to lose 60 to 80 percent of their excess weight.
• Produces an altered hormonal landscape in the gut that leads to appetite suppression.
• Compels patients to develop a healthier relationship with food.
• Has a high degree of long term success.
• Is typically free of many of the more odious side effects of banding.

Gastric bypass disadvantages include:

• You will likely need to take vitamin and mineral supplements long term.
• You will not be able to be discharged the same day as you would with banding.
• There is no getting around the need to develop new eating habits.
• Your digestive tract will undergo significant alteration that cannot be reversed.

While some patients are uneasy with the notion that the procedure is not reversible they should consider the overall outstanding long term success rate enjoyed by the gastric bypass procedure and weigh that against the myriad potential complications that come with banding.

Sleeve gastrectomy – also known as laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy – is a surgical procedure during with 75 – 80 percent of the stomach is removed leaving a slender, tube like stomach that resembles a shirt sleeve or, some would say, a banana. The procedure has not been around as long as the classic gastric bypass procedure but it is quickly gaining believers due to the fact that there is considerably less remodeling of the digestive tract involved than there is with Roux-en Y.

As with Roux-en Y gastric bypass the newly reduced stomach cannot hold nearly as much food as it did before. This compels the patient to eat less and less food equals fewer calories equals weight loss. Perhaps the most compelling feature of sleeve gastrectomy is that the intestine is not severed so the body retains its natural digestive flow from esophagus to stomach to intestine without interruption or redirection. The process also promotes a rebalancing of gut hormones that promote satiety as well as stable blood sugar levels.

There is convincing evidence that sleeve gastrectomy is every bit as effective as Roux-en Y gastric bypass when it comes to weight loss. In addition, because it promotes greater balance of blood sugar levels it’s also praised for its ability to improve quality of life for those with type II diabetes. Finally, while there are perhaps a few more potential side effects than there are with classic gastric bypass there are still far fewer than with banding.

Sleeve gastrectomy advantages include:

• Greatly reduced stomach capacity.
• Weight loss is typically fast and significant.
• Fewer surgical alterations to the digestive tract.
• Patients are typically home 2 days after surgery.
• Promotes healthier gut hormone levels and more balanced blood sugars.

Sleeve gastrectomy disadvantages include:

• Like Roux-en Y a sleeve gastrectomy is irreversible.
• Patient may have to rely on long term vitamin supplementation.

Sleeve gastrectomy has been finding favor with patients and surgeons everywhere due to its relative simplicity, the fact that it generates fewer surgery related complications, its ability to promote a healthier gut environment where appetite is suppressed and the fact that it tends to help stabilize blood sugar levels for those with type II diabetes. It also entails far fewer side effects – both serious and incidental – than banding.

The mini-gastric bypass is an offshoot of classic Roux-en Y gastric bypass surgery. In effect it occupies a kind of middle ground between Roux-en Y and gastric sleeve surgery. With the mini gastric bypass the stomach is divided in a way that leaves the upper portion looking very much like the banana-shape associated with the sleeve gastrectomy. However, instead of actually slicing the intestine in two the lower portion of the newly reconfigured stomach is simply connected to the side of the intestine some ways beyond where it connects naturally to the stomach.

Like other types of bariatric surgery mini-gastric bypass compels the patient to eat less by reducing the capacity of the stomach. The mini gastric bypass is most often a primary weight loss choice, although many who have decided to remove their gastric bands opt to have a mini gastric bypass afterward. It’s safe, effective and although it still requires modification to both the stomach and intestine, the intestinal modification is far less intensive and impactful.

In the hands of an experienced talented surgeon the mini-gastric bypass can sometimes be completed in about an hour. During recovery there are fewer potential complications to deal with than with classic gastric bypass simply because there has been less cutting and reshaping of the digestive tract. Mini gastric bypass is typically cheaper than standard gastric bypass as well.

Mini gastric bypass advantages include:

• Perhaps surprisingly there is evidence to suggest the mini gastric bypass actually produces more reliable and predictable weight loss than standard Roux-en Y bypass.
• Weight loss is particularly rapid in most cases.
• There are no adjustments needed to a band after the fact.
• It tends to produce more stable blood sugar levels in patients with type II diabetes. Some in fact may be actually be freed of the affliction altogether.
• It’s fast, safe and effective with far fewer potential side effects than gastric banding.

Mini gastric bypass disadvantages include:

• The need for long term vitamin and mineral supplementation.
• The risk of anaemia in women of child-bearing age.

One particularly vexing myth that has made the rounds concerning mini gastric bypass is that it increases your risk of developing esophageal cancer or GERD (gastrointestinal reflux disease). It’s unclear where or with whom this fallacy originated but there is simply no scientific evidence that this is the case.

While we’ve just taken a closer look at the various procedures we believe to be superior to gastric bands we’ll now try to summarize why they as a whole represent a more sensible alternative to the banding process. That is, what is it about these types of bariatric surgery that make them a better choice:

• Ability to produce significant weight loss – The procedures outlined above are known for being able to produce substantial weight loss in short order. That often entails hundreds of pounds being lost over the course of the first post-surgical year. Contrast that to gastric band weight loss results that oftentimes stall after the first 30 or 40 pounds and are often unsustainable.
• Increased longevity – According to the US National Institutes of Health obese individuals typically live 14 fewer years than people with an optimal body mass index. That’s a lot of years. However being able to enjoy a longer life because you’ve lost much or all of your excess weight is dependent on your ability to keep that weight off. As difficult as it may be to contemplate the idea of an “irreversible” procedure the fact is that such surgical solutions provide the best chance to both lose the weight you need to lose and, more importantly, to keep it off in the long run.
• Reduction in comorbidities – With any of the above outlined surgical weight loss procedures you have a reasonable expectation that other weight related conditions will be reduced in severity and perhaps even cleared up entirely. That includes things like ankle, knee and hip problems, risk of heart attack and even type II diabetes. With banding you may lose some weight but you may in fact develop other problems like GERD, bowel obstructions, blood clots and respiratory problems that will make your weight issues seem relatively minor.
• Fewer ‘do-overs’ – As we mentioned earlier many people who have undergone banding have encountered such severe side-effects that they’ve opted to have the band removed. Disheartened, some have simply given up on finding a solution to their weight loss issues. Others have decided to try again using a different approach such as mini-gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy. Having to change horses in midstream and go in an entirely different direction can be extremely stressful. Not to mention a huge waste of time, money and effort.
• Affordability – Speaking of wasted money: banding, while still available in quite a few countries, is not always covered by insurance companies in those countries. As such, there is a very real possibility that you’ll have to pay for the procedure out of your own pocket. Contrast that to the various types of bariatric surgery outlined above, most of which are covered by insurance. In fact it’s likely the NHS will cover the cost of your gastric bypass, even if you have the procedure performed abroad.
• Accessibility and accountability – The bariatric procedures we outlined above are now available in every developed country on the planet. By contrast gastric banding is being dropped by more and more hospitals and clinics either due to what are considered excessive side effects or because many health plans simply refuse to cover it any more. You want your weight loss surgery to be performed by someone reputable, not someone trying to fly under the radar by offering a type of surgery that is no longer sanctioned by a country’s health authorities.

The bottom line is that gastric bypass, mini gastric bypass and gastric sleeve are all ascendant because they are proven procedures with fewer complications than banding.

The fact is that if you live in the UK and are in need of gastric bypass to address pressing weight-related issues like type II diabetes, hypertension or joint problems you’re looking at a year or more of delays in most cases as your application winds its way through the bureaucracy. Because of the unfortunate truth of that statement many people look abroad for solutions and thousands have found it in the form of Weight Loss Riga.

While it has taken some time to chip away at the resistance many western Europeans had to medical facilities in places like Latvia time and experience have finally begun to win out. The fact is the quality of care you’ll receive at Weight Loss Riga is comparable to anything you’ll receive in London or Dublin or Paris or anywhere else. Here are just some of the reasons more and more people are making their way to Weight Loss Riga for their bariatric surgery.

Gastric banding has been around for years and will in all likelihood continue to be offered at a variety of hospitals and clinics in many countries for the foreseeable future. However, while it’s understandable why people would want to take the path of least resistance to sustainable weight loss the fact is the band is not that path. It’s a procedure which has been beset by myriad side effects and serious complications from day one. And while certain refinements have made the procedure quicker and easier to perform many of those same old side effects and serious complications remain.

Before you make a date to undergo gastric band surgery call our UK patient coordinator and discuss gastric bypass vs lap band surgery with her. She’ll provide you a range of affordable, reliable options that will get you where you want to be and save you a lot of money and aggravation in the process. A healthier, happy future is waiting for you.