Video Website powered by Einstein IndustriesWestern Bariatric, AMC Douglas M. Krahn, M.D., F.A.C.S.

MALE VOICE: In general, in bariatric surgery, all operations fall into one of three categories. The first category in concept is gastric restriction. That means an operation has been put in place, which helps a patient achieve portion control. That is, they limit the amount of food that a patient would eat at any one given time. The other category of operation in concept is that of mal-absorption; which means, that a patient would eat food but then, their body has been changed so that the food is absorbed, not the same as it was before the operation. They may absorb fewer calories. They may be less able to tolerate certain types of foods. The gastric-bypass, which tends to be the most common combined operation, which is the third category, a combination of restriction and mal-absorption, helps us to limit, not only the volume of food that a patient would eat at any one given time, but also alters the way their body absorbs the food.