Gastric Sleeve vs. Lap Band: Which Weight Loss Surgery is Right for You?

With today's technology, a wide variety of treatments exist for those looking to lose a significant amount of weight. More and more patients are turning to operations such as gastric band surgery or the more recent gastric sleeve surgery.

Types

• One of the most common weight loss operations is gastric-band surgery, also known as lap band surgery. Gastric sleeve surgery, which was first used in 2002, is also growing in popularity but is mainly used as a preliminary surgery for patients deemed too unhealthy for other bariatric surgeries, with a second operation, usually a gastric bypass, to follow.

Function

• Gastric sleeve surgery involves the removal of 60 percent of the stomach, resulting in a sleeve-like appearance. Gastric band surgery connects a balloon to a band around the upper section of the stomach. When the balloon inflates, the band tightens, restricting the amount of food that reaches the stomach.

Cost

• Gastric band surgery typically costs anywhere from $14,000 to $18,000, while gastric sleeve surgeries are around $10,000 each.

Risks

• Gastric band surgery comes with several potential problems, such as the band moving or slipping after the surgery, requiring a follow-up procedure. Dangers involved with the gastric sleeve procedure include bleeding, pneumonia or infection.

Considerations

• Gastric sleeve surgery is likely to result in about 40 to 60 percent of excess weight being lost in the first two years, and up to 50-80 percent if gastric bypass surgery follows. Lap band surgery typically results in about a 40 to 50 percent excess weight lost.