Weight Loss Surgery Glossary

A physician or surgeon who performs a wide range of weight loss surgery procedures.

Long-term weight loss through bariatric surgery is largely achieved by altering the gut hormone levels responsible for hunger and satiety, leading to a new hormonal set point. These operations include Roux-en-Y bypass, sleeve gastrectomy and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch, which can help you reach your goal more quickly than traditional methods alone.
These procedures change the digestive system to help patients lose weight. They are normally used after diet and exercise have not worked, and when the patient has serious concerns about health problems associated with their weight.

Also known as body mass index. An indirect measure of body fat, calculated from height and weight.

Used to calculate your body mass index.

A medical procedure used to examine the inside of the body. It checks the interior of a hollow organ or cavity, with the instrument normally inserted directly into the organ.

A stone formed from precipitated bile components within the gallbladder.

Surgery to remove part or all of the stomach.

A surgical procedure that reduces the stomach's 'holding' capacity by up to 90%. Gastric bypass divides the stomach into two parts, a smaller upper pouch and a larger lower pouch, then reconnects the small intestine to the smaller pouch.

An irreversible surgical procedure that permanently removes a large portion (up to 85%) of the stomach, affecting the entire gastric system. The remaining stomach is shaped like a sleeve or tube.

An examination that uses a flexible telescope to look inside the stomach, oesophagus (gullet or food pipe) and duodenum (upper part of the small bowel).

A condition where an organ abnormally protrudes through the wall of the body cavity that usually contains it. Common areas are the groin, umbilicus and diaphragm (hiatus hernia).

Also known as a laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB) or gastric band. An adjustable silicone device placed around the top of the stomach to reduce food consumption.

Removal of the lap band, an adjustable silicone device placed around the top of the stomach for weight loss.

Surgery that places an adjustable silicone device around the top of the stomach to reduce food intake. The device is set to each patient's requirements and can be removed later in life.

An operation performed in the abdomen or pelvis through small incisions (usually 0.5–1.5 cm) with the aid of a camera.

Excessive body fat, where a person is more than 20% over their target BMI. The WHO classifies a BMI of more than 30 as obesity.

The care you receive after a bariatric surgical procedure.

Revisional surgery for patients who have already had a bariatric procedure and wish to change to a different type of weight loss surgery, either because of complications such as reflux or because of inadequate weight loss.

Also known as single anastomosis duodeno-ileal switch (SADI-S) or Stomach Intestine Sparing Surgery (SIPS).
SADI-S is an irreversible procedure that permanently removes roughly 70% of the stomach to reduce food consumption, leaving a sleeve- or tube-shaped stomach. The small intestine is also reconnected.

The single anastomosis stomach-ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy (SASI-S) is a mixed surgical operation based on a gastric sleeve and an intestinal bypass.

A weight loss surgical procedure that reduces the stomach to about 15% of its original size. The remaining stomach is shaped like a sleeve or tube.

A variety of surgical procedures performed on people living with obesity who wish to lose weight.

A health advice or treatment meeting between a patient and a weight loss surgeon to discuss weight loss options.

A person who is receiving, or aiming to receive, bariatric surgery.