There are basically three types of obesity surgery which you can choose. Gastric Band Surgery, Gastric Bypass, or Gastric Sleeve. Which is the best for you will depend very much on your general health, your weight and your Surgeons preferences.

Gastric Band surgery is the first method. This type of surgery physically alters the size of the stomach to slow down the digestive system.  Gastric band surgery, or bariatric surgery, is the least invasive method of surgery. The gastric Band surgeon places an inflatable band around the neck of the patient’s stomach which creates a small upper pouch and a lower stomach chamber. Food from the upper stomach pouch travels through the narrowed channel, which has been created by the restriction of the band, into the lower stomach chamber. A normal stomach can generally hold approximately three pints of food, but following surgery the stomach can be restricted to hold as little as one ounce of food.

Gastric lap band surgery is generally accepted as being the safest form of obesity surgery. It initially requires only the minimum of surgical intervention and follow up adjustments to the restriction of the gastric band can be carried out simply and effectively in a doctor's consulting rooms or clinic. The initial weight loss is not dramatic, but over time is very effective, and has the advantage that the Gastric band restriction can be adjusted to reduce the amount of food the patient can consume. Another advantage of gastric banding surgery is that it is fully reversible.

The second method of obesity surgery is the gastric bypass surgery. This type of surgery is far more invasive and changes how the body takes in its food. Gastric Bypass surgery typically restrict the stomach size by removing part of the digestive tract, making it more difficult to absorb calories.

A gastric bypass is usually performed as an open surgical procedure, or a laparoscopic surgery, which is a procedure that involves the use of tiny cameras inserted in to the abdomen and requires only smaller incisions. Gastric bypass surgery effectively splits the stomach in to an upper and a lower chamber. The surgeon then connects the upper chamber directly to the small intestine which has the effect of completely bypassing the lower stomach and large intestine. Once the bypass has been completed the food is no longer digested normally because the body is unable to absorb as many calories. Gastric bypass patients will see a much more dramatic, and almost immediate weight loss. Another advantage of a Gastric Bypass is that there is usually a reduction in related illnesses associated with weight problems, such as diabetes and high cholesterol.

The disadvantage of gastric bypass surgery is that it is virtually irreversible. Changing the way the body digests food can put the patient at risk of nutritional deficiencies. This means the patient may need to take supplements for the remainder of his or her life.

The third and final form of obesity surgery is the relatively new Gastric sleeve, or gastrectomy. This procedure is performed using a laparoscopic camera and then the surgeon removes up to 75 percent of the patient's stomach. What is left is a narrow sleeve which connects directly to the intestine. For many people, this is just the first in a long line of surgeries. Gastric sleeve gastrectomy is less risky than a standard bypass. The more obese the patient was initially, the greatest the weight loss initially which can be by as much as a 40 to 50 percent weight loss in the first three years. The biggest risk associated with a gastric sleeve, or gastrectomy, are leaks in the sleeves and the possibility of blood clots. As this is a relatively new type of weight loss and obesity surgical procedure, the long-term benefits and risks are not yet known.