Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely. We encourage you to bring a support person with you to any and all of your appointments. Surgery is a lifestyle change so having a support person to help you through the process is very helpful.

You will receive an assessment of your emotional health and readiness to change your lifestyle behaviors and will be given coping skills to assist with these changes after surgery.

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is a type of weight loss surgery. Weight loss surgery is also called bariatric surgery. It’s often done as a laparoscopic surgery, with small incisions in the abdomen. This surgery reduces the size of your upper stomach to a small pouch about the size of an egg. The surgeon does this by stapling off the upper section of the stomach. This reduces the amount of food you can eat. The surgeon then attaches this pouch directly to part of the small intestine called the Roux limb. This forms a “Y” shape. The food you eat then bypasses the rest of the stomach and the upper part of your small intestine. This reduces the amount of fat and calories you absorb from the foods you eat. It also reduces the amount of vitamins and minerals you absorb from food.

Gastric sleeve surgery is a type of weight-loss surgery (bariatric surgery). This surgery is also known as sleeve gastrectomy or vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG). Gastric sleeve surgery restricts your food intake, which leads to weight loss. You may lose from 50 to 90 pounds. It’s done as a laparoscopic surgery, with small incisions in the upper abdomen. Most of the left part of the stomach is removed. The remaining stomach is then a narrow tube called a sleeve. Food empties out of the bottom of the stomach into the small intestine the same way that it did before surgery. The small intestine is not operated on or changed. After the surgery, less food will make you full when eating.