Types of Weight Loss Surgery

Gastric banding and gastroplasty ("stomach stapling") are restrictive procedures that decrease the stomach size from about six cups to one. Malabsorptive procedures, which block food absorption, include gastric bypass. "Roux-en-Y" gastric bypass combines both approaches and is the most common weight loss surgery in the U.S. It reduces the size of the stomach and prevents the absorption of calories in the small intestine.