With so many surgical weight loss options available today, finding the right option for you might seem overwhelming. Here is a primer on the weight loss surgeries available today to help you get the conversation started with your health care provider.

There are currently three primary weight loss (or bariatric) surgeries being performed across the United States. They are Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, adjustable gastric banding and sleeve gastrectomy. All of these surgeries have pros and cons to them, and none of them are a quick, simple fix for losing weight. With each procedure you still must follow a diet and exercise program in order to have good results – surgery is just a tool to assist in the weight loss process.

Gastric Bypass
Of the three procedures, gastric bypass surgery has been performed the longest, dating back more than 20 years. The procedure involves a surgeon cutting across the top of the stomach to create a walnut-sized pouch. The surgeon then attaches the pouch to the small intestine so that food bypasses the stomach and enters directly into the small intestine. Gastric bypass is a combined procedure, which means that it restricts portion size and limits the absorption of foods, a process called “malabsorption.”

Gastric Banding
Gastric banding has been in the United States for more than 10 years and involves a surgeon placing an adjustable silicone band around the upper part of the stomach. Of the three procedures, only gastric banding is adjustable; the amount of food a person’s stomach can hold can be altered with an office visit by adjusting the tightness of the band around the stomach.

Sleeve Gastrectomy
The sleeve gastrectomy has had FDA approval for less than four years and involves a surgeon removing 80 to 85 percent of the stomach, then stapling the remaining portion of stomach together. This is a restrictive procedure that limits the amount of food you can consume.