Although all the procedures will result in weight loss to some degree, they each work in different ways. At SEQS, our aim is to provide patients with minimally invasive techniques, in order to minimise the risk of complications in both the short and long-term. Bariatric surgery differs from nearly all other operations in that long term follow-up is required for all procedures.

The following information gives a comparison between gastric banding (offered at SEQS) and LSG (not offered):

 

Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding  Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy (LSG)
 
  • Food still travels down normal anatomical pathway
  • Completely reversible
  • Safest of the operation, but there are possible ongoing complications as the band is present for life
  • Complications requiring surgery can nearly always be dealt with laparoscopically.
  • Some complications mean the band has to be removed.
  • Many patients are unable to eat certain foods, such as red meat and some vegetables and fruit
  • It does mean leaving a foreign body inside (although so do joint replacements, cataracts, tooth filling)
  • Weight loss is slower, so it will take longer to get to desired weight. However, this may give time for the skin to retract.
  • It is strongly dependant on follow-up. Those who cannot commit to a minimum of monthly visits for the first 6 months should consider an alternative treatment.
  • Top up may be required every few years as there is a slow loss of fluid out of the band, which leads to some weight regain if not replaced. This is a good way of keeping in touch about new developments.

 
  • Food still travels down normal anatomical pathway
  • Not reversible
  • Higher immediate post-operative risk (leak and bleed) but once healed, further complications very rare.
  • Weight loss is not so critically dependant on a very close follow-up
  • Complications may entail open surgery and are life threatening, often needing ICU and prolonged hospitalisation.
  • Patients can usually eat all types of food.
  • The long term results are not known.(Patients choosing this operation should accept that additional surgery may be required in the future if there is inadequate weight loss or there is regaining of weight in the future.)