Watch this video in which a leading weight loss surgeon in Tijuana, Mexico – Dr. Francisco Gonzalez – compares sleeve gastrectomy with gastric banding.

 

Video Transcription

“The difference between the lap band and the gastric sleeve is a lot. In a gastric band surgery we place a ring around the stomach, we don’t need to cut the stomach, it’s a very simple surgery, it lasts about 30 minutes and it’s an in and out surgery.

“The patient can go out the same day with some medications like antibiotics, painkillers and special diet for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, the patient has to come back to my office and do the adjustment. We need to close the band in order to diminish the patient’s food intake.

The gastric sleeve is a little more complicated surgery, we need to cut the stomach vertically and the patient has to at least for 48 hours at the hospital. We do need to do some tests to see that there is no leaking during their stay in the hospital.”

Dr. Gonzalez explains lap band is a relatively simple procedure compared to gastric sleeve surgery. The former involves placing a ring around the upper part of the stomach without cutting away any part of it. Gastric sleeve, on the other hand, is an irreversible procedure involving removal of over 75% of the stomach to limit its capacity to hold food.

Here is another video in which Dr. Gonzalez discusses gastric sleeve vs. gastric bypass.

Similar Posts