Types of bariatric surgery

The road to losing weight looks different for everyone, even though the final destination may be the same or similar. Everyone wants to be healthy and feel great about their body, but there’s not a single one size fits all method; for some, just following a healthy diet can be enough, while others include a physical activity routine. However, people who are struggling with obesity or other weight related problems may struggle to lose weight if they only stick to these kinds of programs. We’re not saying it’s completely impossible, but patients can grow impatient with the lack of results. 

Of course, this can only be decided by a certified doctor that will determine if you’re a candidate for bariatric surgery and which procedure is best for you. Your needs and expectations, along with your medical history, also come into play.

LIMARP® is an internationally recognized bariatric surgery center with a well-rounded medical and surgical team that’s led by Dr. Liza María Pompa González, whose experience, along with the state of the art technology available at the clinic, ensures that every patient who comes through our door gets the best attention possible. We offer integral treatment plans that are created based on the patient’s profile and some of them may include bariatric surgery.

Surgery can be a scary thing, the idea of being put under anesthesia and being cut open may deter some patients from even considering it as an option, but bariatric surgery can also bring forth many benefits. This article will focus on the different types of procedures and if you still have doubts or need more information, contact your doctor or schedule an appointment with us, we’ll be happy to answer any of your questions.

What’s the best procedure for you?

There are a variety of bariatric procedures that are designed to help patients address their specific health concerns and lose weight. The LIMARP® International Center of Excellence for Obesity in Tijuana, Mexico successfully performs multiple types of bariatric surgery in the context of our integrative bariatric program. The type of procedure selected for you will depend on your specific case, individual needs, and weight loss goals. Dr. Liza María Pompa González has performed thousands of bariatric surgeries and she and her surgical team are highly experienced in each type of procedure.

Once our team determines that you are a candidate for bariatric surgery, we can determine the most effective type of surgery for you. Bariatric surgery is a serious procedure, with the potential to change your life. Our multidisciplinary team will do both physical and psychological evaluations to determine your possibility of undergoing surgery. 

During the discussion with your doctor, they will bring up the benefits of undergoing bariatric surgery and while the results of each procedure may look different for every patient, the benefits can be pretty universal. According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), surgery can be the most effective treatment for people battling with severe obesity or other medical problems like heart and kidney disease[1]. Aside from obesity, bariatric surgery benefits the patient by treating other conditions like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, and acid reflux.

Some of these conditions can be life-threatening and bariatric surgery has been proven to expand the patient’s life expectancy[2], as well as shown to lower a person’s risk of death from any cause by over 40%. Other studies have highlighted that modern bariatric procedures have “strong evidence of efficacy and safety” and that it can benefit patients with type 2 diabetes[3]. 

Types of Bariatric Procedures

There are three procedure categories: restrictive, malabsorptive, and combination. Restrictive procedures limit food intake whereas malabsorptive procedures restrict food intake and limit nutrient and calorie absorption. 

Bariatric surgery works by changing the anatomy or position of the stomach and small intestines and can cause changes in appetite, satiety, and metabolism. These anatomy changes depend on the type of procedure that’s performed on the patient, which are divided into three[4] groups: 

• Restrictive: The procedure consists of creating a small gastric pouch with a narrow outlet that restricts the amount of food that the patient can eat at one time. Some examples are the vertical banded gastroplasty and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding.
• Malabsorptive: These procedures, like the duodenal switch, bypass a segment of the small intestine so that less food is absorbed.
• Combination: These use both mechanisms to achieve weight loss. For example, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass can be performed either laparoscopically or as open surgery. 

Dr. Pompa González will recommend the best procedure for your specific situation. Most bariatric procedures are laparoscopic to minimize scarring and reduce your overall recovery time. By limiting the food intake and restricting the nutrient and calorie absorption, the patient is able to lose weight at a rate that they hadn’t been able to achieve prior to the surgery. Of course, this can only be achieved if the patient sticks to a diet and exercise plan that can help them keep the weight off and reap the benefits. As part of the integral treatment plans offered at LIMARP®, we ensure that they have the necessary tools and guidance. 

If you do not qualify for bariatric surgery, the LIMARP International Center of Excellence for Obesity in Tijuana, MX, offers nonsurgical weight loss. Through our weight loss program, patients can work with nutritional specialists to address a wide range of obesity-related issues. We may also be able to perform non invasive procedures to treat certain patients.

Restrictive Bariatric Surgery Procedures

Restrictive procedures are very common and may be recommended for patients with a body mass index (BMI) between 30 and 40, depending on their overall health. Restrictive procedures reduce the amount of food a patient can eat, but do not disrupt the normal digestive process the way malabsorptive procedures can. Some examples of these types of surgeries include:

• Gastric sleeve: The sleeve procedure is the most common one performed worldwide as it removes 80% of the part of the stomach that produces the hunger hormone, creating a smaller stomach that controls how much a patient can eat and simulates a sensation of fullness.
• Intragastric balloon: For patients who wish to undergo a non-surgical, reversible, less-invasive treatment, we offer the intragastric balloon. It consists of placing a small, spherical device inside the stomach through an endoscopic procedure. It is performed in the operating room under low sedation and results in up to 50% stomach capacity reduction, depending on the actual volume of the patient’s stomach. During the time it remains in place, the balloon acts as a tool that helps patients learn portion control, while they lose weight.

At our Tijuana clinic, we offer the traditional intragastric balloon, as well as Allurion, a groundbreaking achievement in bariatric surgery that makes the procedure easier for the patient.

Malabsorptive Bariatric Surgery Procedures

Malabsorptive procedures restrict food intake, but also reduce the amount of nutrients and calories that are absorbed to enhance weight loss results. These procedures typically require the use of supplements in the patient’s post-surgery diet to replace needed nutrients and avoid malnutrition. Various malabsorptive procedures are performed as metabolic surgery to help regulate illnesses such as type 2 diabetes.

• Gastric bypass: Also known as Roux-en-Y, this procedure is considered the gold standard and is ideal for patients with a BMI above 40 or those with a BMI higher than 35 with serious weight-related health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol and/or triglycerides. Like a gastric sleeve procedure, gastric bypass surgery creates a smaller stomach, but also bypasses areas of the gastrointestinal tract where most of the sugar and fat absorption occurs; as a consequence, some vitamins are also not absorbed, which makes adequate supplementation a must.
• Mini gastric bypass: A mini gastric bypass takes less time to perform than a regular gastric bypass. For this procedure, the stomach is divided, creating a smaller, tube-shaped pouch. A large part of the small intestine is bypassed and what remains is reconnected to the new, smaller stomach. This procedure requires patients to supplement adequately.

Combination Bariatric Surgery Procedures

Combined surgeries use malabsorptive and restrictive methods to encourage weight loss. These procedures restrict how much food the stomach can hold while reducing the amount of calories it can absorb. However, it does so to a smaller extent than procedures which are exclusively malabsorptive. One example of these types of procedures is the following:

• Duodenal switch: This is a complicated, lengthy, non-reversible procedure that may or may not be completed at one time. Due to the risks and potential complications involved, it is only recommended for patients with a BMI of 60 or more, or for patients with a slightly lower BMI that suffer from severe health issues related to weight. The duodenal switch removes a large part of the stomach, creating a tube-shaped pouch. Part of the small intestine is cut and connected to the duodenum, while the intestine is reconnected to itself. Patients with the duodenal switch must take supplements on a strict basis and our team’s nutritionist will provide a plan so that the patient knows how to take care of themselves following the surgery.

Costs and Financing for Bariatric Surgery

Once our medical team decides on the type of surgery you need, they’ll discuss the cost and the available payment options, as well as answer any questions regarding insurance coverage. We offer financing options for patients that come from Canada, the United States, and of course, Mexico. 

It’s important to consider that not all types of bariatric surgeries are covered by american or canadian insurance, such as the intragastric balloon and the mini gastric bypass. However, we have experience in providing care for patients all over the world and are well acquainted with the most accessible financing services and solutions for most cases.

At LIMARP®, we are interested in providing quality care for every patient struggling with obesity. The price of our service is competitive in the medical tourism market, but we don’t skimp on safety and quality and we’ll make sure that your investment is met with the best possible experience in quality care.

Contact Us to Learn More

If you want to learn more about the different types of bariatric surgeries we offer at our Tijuana clinic, schedule an appointment with one of our doctors. We can help determine the right treatment for you. Contact us online anytime or give us a call at (619) 373-0229.

References

[1] “Benefits of Weight Loss Surgery”. https://asmbs.org/patients/benefits-of-weight-loss-surgery. (Accessed on November 15, 2022). 

[2] Arterburn DE, Olsen MK, Smith VA, et al. Association between bariatric surgery and long-term survival. JAMA. 2015;313(1):62–70. doi:10.1001/jama.2014.16968

[3] Arterburn DE, Telem DA, Kushner RF, Courcoulas AP. Benefits and Risks of Bariatric Surgery in Adults: A Review. JAMA. 2020;324(9):879–887. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.12567

[4] Brethauer, Stacy A., Bipan Chand, and Philip R. Schauer. “Risks and benefits of bariatric surgery: current evidence.” Cleveland clinic journal of medicine 73.11 (2006): 993.