Mini Gastric Bypass Versus Lap Band Surgery

While the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is the classic weight loss surgery, two alternatives to it are the mini gastric bypass and the lap band surgery.  Given a choice between a mini gastric bypass versus lap band surgery, the question becomes which is better.

The choice isn’t clear cut and may hinge largely on the advice of a physician and the weight loss needs of the individual. Here’s the rundown on both. Both procedures can be performed laparoscopically reducing operation time.

The lap band surgery and mini gastric bypass normally take around one hour or less.  People can return to work within about one week from both, though activity restrictions usually continue for 4 to 6 weeks.

Both surgeries are widely available in the U.S, Canada and the U.K. However, both are available in Mexico much more cheaply than in the U.S. and faster than is average in Canada and the U.K. The principle difference lies in what happens to the stomach.

The lap band is a device that can be filled or emptied to provide more or less restriction to food intake.  It can also be emptied completely, essentially returning the stomach to its original size.

The gastric bypass is a permanent change to the stomach in which a large section of the stomach is stapled closed and the remaining piece is attached to the small intestine. The mini gastric bypass is not meant to be reversible.