Gastric Sleeve Vs. Gastric Bypass: What's the Difference?

Bariatric surgery is one of the most common options for people who need to lose weight and have not had success with dieting, exercising, or taking supplements. The two types of bariatric surgeries people often opt for are gastric sleeve and gastric bypass surgery. Your medical professional can help you determine which type of surgery is right for you. However, it is also important for you to understand the differences and similarities between the two. We’ve explained what gastric bypass sleeve vs gastric bypass surgery is so you can have a better idea of what to expect with the option you choose.

What Is Gastric Sleeve?

In a gastric sleeve procedure, the surgeon removes part of the stomach from the body and forms the remaining portion into a tube. The tube looks similar to a shirt sleeve, which is how the name “gastric sleeve” originated. With a reduced stomach size following a gastric sleeve procedure, you will feel less hungry and feel full more quickly when eating. A smaller stomach also produces lower amounts of the hormone ghrelin, which is the hormone that regulates your hunger. These factors make the gastric sleeve procedure an effective choice for many people.

What Is Gastric Bypass?

Gastric bypass is different from gastric sleeve because it does not remove any part of the stomach. Instead, the surgeon partitions the stomach to make a small upper pouch with a larger lower pouch. The partitioning process reduces the size of the stomach without removing any part of it. This partitioning can reduce the amount of food or drink you can consume at any given time.

As part of the gastric bypass procedure, the surgeon can detach your small intestine from the large lower pouch and connect it to the small upper pouch. This allows the food consumed to move straight from the small upper pouch to the small intestine. Meanwhile, the larger lower pouch still functions by digesting the food. Gastric bypass surgery can be effective for weight loss because it restricts the stomach size, creates malabsorption by redirecting food flow, and changes hormone production to make you feel less hungry throughout the day.

Boost Your Lifestyle and Self-Esteem With the Right Weight-Loss Surgery

If you’ve tried everything to reduce your weight without results, opting for gastric sleeve or gastric bypass surgery could bean effective option for you. When you combine exercise with better eating habits and consuming less food, your weight loss efforts will be more successful. Everyone deserves to live a quality lifestyle and have high self-esteem, but this can be challenging when you aren’t happy with your weight. 

When you work with a reputable surgeon, he or she will evaluate your weight, medical history, and other factors to determine whether gastric sleeve or gastric bypass surgeries could be effective for you. The goal is to have a safe and effective procedure that can benefit you, boosting your confidence and self-esteem at the same time.

BASS Bariatric Surgery Center wants to help your each your weight loss goals safely. Our surgeons have performed bariatric surgeries for nearly 20 years, performing more than 1,000 successful operations. We understand that any operation can make you feel uneasy, so we will take the time to talk about any procedure in detail and answer all questions you may have. Once the surgery is complete, we will be ready to help you at all times to ensure a smooth recovery. 

If you’ve been thinking about bariatric surgery, give us a call at (925) 281-3711 and we would be happy to provide you with a consultation to determine whether you are a candidate.