For most people who suffer from severe obesity, weight loss surgery is a last resort to managing their weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Bariatric surgery, also known as weight loss surgery, is the latest and most effective metabolic procedure recommended to obese patients and those with obesity-related diseases like diabetes and heart disease to lose excess weight and live healthier lives.

According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), an estimated 1.8 million bariatric surgery procedures have been done in the United States from 2011 to 2019. The most common bariatric procedures performed are gastric bypass, adjustable gastric banding, sleeve gastrectomy, and duodenal switch.

In recent years, bariatric surgery has advanced significantly to allow for less invasive procedures and techniques with shorter recovery times, lower risks for infection, and higher success rates. At Beltline Health, we provide minimally invasive surgery options to help our bariatric patients get back on their feet faster and better.

This post will explore the latest improvements in weight loss surgery in terms of procedures and techniques that improve bariatric patients’ quality of life.

Surgical Procedures and Techniques

One of the most commonly performed bariatric surgery procedures is gastric bypass, now called Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). It is also the first developed bariatric procedure in the 1960s, which was observed in the successful weight loss of ulcer patients who had a portion of their stomach removed.

While traditional or open gastric bypass surgery has been proven effective in long-term weight loss, early and late wound-related complications were reported, including infection and incisional hernia.

Thus, bariatric surgeons have discovered a new, minimally invasive surgical technique they can use to access the stomach while reducing post-surgery complications called laparoscopic bariatric surgery.

Laparoscopic Surgery

The main difference between laparoscopic and open RYGB is the method of access and exposure. In a laparoscopic RYGB, the surgeon makes five to six small incisions to access the stomach without making large incisions.

It uses a camera and small surgical instruments to allow the surgeon to see the inside of your body and perform the surgery. On the other hand, open RYGB is performed by making a large incision and using abdominal wall retractors to expose the inside of the stomach.

“When we look at gastric bypass that’s being done today versus the gastric bypass that was done 30 years ago, the only difference we’ll see is the surgical technique, whether it was open or laparoscopic. While we saw more weight regain during the past few decades, it’s definitely not caused by the surgical technique used because the changes made inside your body are just the same,” states Dr. Charles Procter, one of the top bariatric surgeons in the country and a founding member of Beltline Health.

The advantages of laparoscopic over open RYGB are lesser blood loss, shorter hospital stay, reduced pain, faster recovery, smaller scars, and fewer wound complications. However, not all gastric bypass patients are qualified for a laparoscopic approach because of body build or previous intra-abdominal surgeries.

Robotic Surgery

Similar to laparoscopy, robotic surgery is another advancement in the field of bariatric surgery, which also uses small incisions, a camera, and small surgical instruments to gain access to the stomach.

But instead of the surgeon holding and manipulating the surgical instruments, they will work from a computer console and use controls to manipulate the tools mounted on the robot arms. The console will provide the surgeon with a high-definition, 3D image that can give a more accurate and clearer view of the inside of your body.

Contrary to popular belief, the surgeon is in complete control of all the medical instruments used in robotic surgery. The use of robotic instruments simply allows for a greater range of motion and precision, reducing blood loss and pain.

Endoscopic Procedure

Many bariatric surgeons have also been considering using a non-surgical procedure called endoscopy as an alternative to laparoscopic or robotic surgery, especially for patients who don’t qualify for surgical treatment. It makes use of a flexible scope that is inserted through the patient’s mouth into the digestive tract.

Some of the popular endoscopic weight loss procedures are gastric balloon and endoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (ESG). While these procedures are performed faster in a non-invasive manner, recent clinical studies suggest that ESG  has comparable complication rates and lower weight reduction outcomes than laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

Multidisciplinary Approach to Bariatric Surgery

The bariatric surgery process doesn’t end after having the procedure. It involves a lifetime commitment to sticking with more sustainable eating habits and lifestyle choices to treat moderate to severe obesity and maintain a healthy weight in the long run.

“We see the most dramatic differences in long-term outcomes from understanding the importance of pre-surgery preparations and continued follow-up visits after surgery. By having a multidisciplinary approach to weight loss surgery, we continuously follow up and monitor our patients on their progress to achieve long-term weight loss success,” highlights Dr. Procter.

It’s pretty common to see bariatric patients who started slipping into bad eating and behavioral habits from the moment they stopped coming to regular visits with their dietitian, psychologist, and surgical team. At Beltline Health, we will provide resources such as nutritional counseling, psychological evaluation, exercise physiologists, and support groups to help you establish an achievable routine for long-term, healthy, and significant weight loss.

But in case of weight regain, no matter who, when, or where your first surgery was done, we are glad to provide you with a consultation to help you figure out the contributing factors and the best course of action for your situation. As your accountability partners, we are committed to providing you with a lifetime of care needed to sustain your weight loss and the healthy lifestyle habits it requires.

If you’re ready to start your weight loss journey, sign up for our free weight loss seminar to learn how our multidisciplinary bariatric surgery program helps individuals suffering from moderate to severe obesity.

To know more about the common reasons for weight gain after bariatric surgery, see this article. Visit our website to message us or call us at (470) 419-4380 to book an appointment with our experienced bariatric surgeon.