Commonwealth Health’s bariatric surgery program provides education and support that begins before surgery and extends through recovery to help ensure individuals are set up for success. Experienced surgeons specialize in bariatric surgery and offer proven weight loss techniques, such as:

• Vertical sleeve gastrectomy – Through small incisions, the surgeon removes approximately 80 percent of the stomach, leaving a narrow gastric tube or sleeve. This “new” stomach has a much smaller capacity, which means patients feel full or satisfied after eating only a small amount of food. The procedure has also proven to reduce the appetite hormone called Grehlin. Less appetite combined with a smaller stomach makes it even easier to eat less food and lose weight.
• Gastric bypass – There are several types of procedures that are used, but all of them bypass part of the small intestine that absorbs nutrients. Bypass techniques involve stapling off an area of the stomach to create a smaller pouch. Gastric bypass also reduces production of the appetite hormone Grehlin, making it easier to eat less.
• Revision and conversion surgery – For a variety of reasons, patients may experience the need for revisions, corrections or conversions of their original operation. Bariatric surgeons can evaluate each situation and recommend appropriate treatment.