Akron Bariatric Surgery

Dr. Adrian Dan MD is a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Here the Doctor has answered some of the common questions Bizymoms visitors have about Bariatric Surgery.


Q. How long is the recovery period?

A. Patients walk on the night of surgery, resume a diet the day after, and are discharged from the hospital within one to two days following laparoscopic weight loss surgery.  Patients are encouraged to ambulate frequently and return to work and regular lifestyle activities within an average of three weeks after surgery.

Q. What is Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery?

A. A Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass is a surgical weight loss procedure that is usually performed laparoscopically.  This procedure reduces the size of the stomach to approximately the size of an egg.  In addition, the small bowel is connected to this new stomach, bypassing a significant portion of the gastrointestinal tract.  The resulting decrease in food intake and the decreased absorption of calories lead to a substantial weight loss and numerous  health benefits.

Q. What types of bariatric surgeries are there?

A. In addition to the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, which is both a malabsorptive and restrictive procedure, two other purely restrictive weight loss procedures are commonly performed laparoscopically.  These include the Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band and the Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy.  At the initial office evaluation, patients discuss with their surgeon their choice of procedure and together the physician and patient determine which type of surgery would best suit the patient.

Q. Does Bariatric Surgery Typically Lead to Major Weight Loss? And what is the average level of weight loss of each type of surgery?

A. When patients are matched to the operation that best suits their degree of obesity and their medical condition, substantial weight loss can be expected.  On average, patients undergoing Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass can expect to lose about 80% of their extra body weight within 12 to 18 months.  The Laparoscopic Adjustable Band typically leads to approximately 60-70% excess body weight loss over the first two years.