Surgical Options

Offered by NewFit

Considered the least invasive weight loss surgery, gastric banding is performed laparoscopically with the LAP-BAND^©. The procedure helps snap weight loss into gear by inserting an adjustable band around the upper part of the patient's stomach, and creating a much smaller pouch that can only hold a limited amount of food. As a result, patients feel full sooner and have a far weaker appetite between meals. The doctor will also continually customize the level of food restriction needed by periodically adjusting the band.

Advantages of gastric banding include:

• Adjustability and reversibility
• The most minimally-invasive surgical weight loss approach
• No stomach cutting, stapling, or intestinal re-routing
• The lowest mortality rate of any major weight-loss surgery (less than 0.1%)
• An extremely quick recovery (usually require less than a 24-hour hospital stay)
• Low risk of malnutrition
• Gradual, more natural weight-loss (about 1-2 lbs. per week during the first year)
• Continued weight loss up to 3-4 years after surgery

Potential risks or disadvantages of gastric banding include:

• Slippage of the band, or erosion of the band into the stomach wall stay
• Device malfunction (tubing disconnection, leaking, etc.)
• A dilated stomach pouch if the band is too tight for a prolonged period
• Long-term complications may result in band removal
• Failure to lose weight
• Requires more maintenance than other weight-loss surgeries for band adjustments

Offered by NewFit

Performed robotic-laparoscopically, with several tiny incisions and using a special stapling device; the gastric sleeve assists weight-loss by creating a small, thinner shaped stomach and removes a portion of the stomach.

Advantages of the gastric sleeve include:

• Highly effective long-term weight loss (up to 50-70% of excess body weight) with few complications
• Low mortality rates (approximately 0.2%)
• Moderately rapid weight loss of 2-4 lbs. per week
• Minimal impact on the anatomy
• Typical recovery period of 7-10 days
• Normal digestion and absorption of nutrition with low risk of malabsorption
• No cutting or re-routing of the small intestines
• No dumping syndrome (compared to gastric bypass)
• Fewer follow-up appointments and no surgical adjustments (compared to gastric banding)
• Relatively low maintenance
• The allowance of conversion to other surgery

Potential risks or disadvantages of the gastric sleeve include:

• Leaks and bleeding from staple lines, which although extremely rare, may result in infection or death
• Staple line strictures, which may lead to obstruction and vomiting
• Reflux issues

Offered by NewFit

As America's golden standard and longest established weight-loss surgery, gastric bypass is proven to be an extremely effective solution for long-term weight loss. Gastric bypass is performed robotic-laparoscopically, with several tiny incisions, using special staples to create a small upper-stomach pouch which is connected to the small intestine which restricts food intake and allows the body to bypass unwanted calories. And although gastric bypass can be viewed as a major and aggressive bariatric procedure, NewFit's exclusive use of the da Vinci^® robot significantly reduces its level of invasiveness and complications.

Advantages of gastric bypass include:

• Effective, rapid weight loss (about 5 lbs. per week), especially within the first 6-9 months
• The loss of up to 60-80% excess body weight
• Greatly reduces food intake and increases feelings of satisfaction and fullness
• General weight stability between 12-18 months after surgery
• Significant improvement or reduction of serious comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure) and sleep apnea
• A mortality risk of approximately 0.5%
• A typical recovery period of 7-10 days

Potential risks or disadvantages of gastric bypass include:

• Leaks and bleeding from staple lines, which although extremely rare, may result in infection or death
• Anastomotic strictures, which may lead to stomach obstruction and vomiting
• Internal hernias, which can cause small bowel obstructions
• Marginal ulcers
• Dumping syndrome, a negative reaction to eating sugar that may result in nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, sweating, or physical weakness
• Nutritional deficiencies as a result of altering the body's normal absorption processes

Offered by NewFit

As Bariatric tools and techniques continue to evolve and advance, so do the needs of patients. That is why NewFit has the training and versatility to provide solutions for even the most complex situations, from modifying past procedures to utilizing future-minded techniques today.