What is the difference between gastric banding and gastric bypass?

I'd like to know how is gastric banding different from gastric bypass? Which of the two is the safest, gives you the most results, and has the least amount of downtime?

1 answer to “What is the difference between...”

A: Gastric banding or Gastric bypass or reunion procedure

Hratch Karamanoukian, MD

I am a cardiovascular surgeon, but I know a little about these procedures - as a good number of our patients go for these procedures. The newest and probably best will be the Reunion procedure. It is not FDA approved yet, but a number of highly skilled bariatric surgeons, like Dr. Colin Powers are doing it in... more

Comments

margeb2006
8 posts
22 Jan 2009

Lap Band or gastric banding is 10x safer than gastric bypass. It is quicker and easier to perform and most patients go home the day of surgery. It is a restrictive procedure with none of the malabsorption problems seen with bypass. It is adjustable and is performed without cutting the stomach or intestines as is necessary for gastric bypass. Their is no alteration or changing of the normal anatomy as is done for bypass and is completely reversible by simply removing the band. Best of luck to you, it is a great gift of health you can give yourself.

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