Bariatric Surgery (Gastric Sleeve, Gastric Bypass)

Weight-loss surgery can be a life-changing procedure for many people. At Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN), we have the most established bariatric surgery program in the region, which is part of Lehigh Valley Institute for Surgical Excellence. Our bariatric surgeons perform hundreds of successful surgeries every year, including gastric sleeve, gastric bypass and revision surgeries. Take the first step today!

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Choosing to have weight-loss surgery is not an easy decision, but it is one that could change your life. Our expert bariatric surgery team at LVHN is here to help you make an informed and confident decision about what’s right for you and your health. We provide comprehensive support and education, so you know what to expect before, during and after your bariatric surgery.

Why choose LVHN for your bariatric surgery?

At LVHN, we have a dedicated bariatric surgery team focused specifically on weight-loss procedures. This intensive focus gives our team a high level of expertise and skill. We have helped thousands of people have safe, effective surgeries and enjoy healthy and active lives.

A part of Lehigh Valley Institute for Surgical Excellence, our bariatric surgery program is nationally accredited through the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program. This designation means we meet the highest-quality standards for bariatric care.

Is bariatric surgery right for you?

Weight-loss surgery is a life-changing obesity treatment option, but is it the right decision for you? At LVHN, we want to make answering this question as easy as possible. That’s why we offer convenient free virtual information sessions where you’ll be provided with all the information you need to make an informed decision about whether gastric sleeving or gastric bypass is right for you. You’ll find out what you can expect pre- and post-surgery, hear from our staff about various aspects of our comprehensive bariatric program, and learn the answers to frequently asked questions about insurance, surgical procedures and diet, as well as have the opportunity to ask our bariatric surgeons other questions you may have.

When you’re ready to get started, you’ll meet with our team to determine the best way forward for you. You will then have a few months of education and preparation before your surgery, working closely with our pre-surgery patient navigators who will guide you through the process, including helping you schedule appointments and ensuring you understand your options and next steps.

After the surgery, a post-surgery patient navigator helps you adjust to your new life and eating habits. We offer a variety of support options to you at no cost. We develop lifelong relationships with many of our patients, helping them maintain a healthy lifestyle for years to come.

Weight-loss medication vs. surgery

While weight-loss medications such as GLP-1 agonists are an effective tool to help people manage weight loss, they primarily have a short-term weight loss result, lacking evidence on the long-term effectiveness for patients with high levels of obesity. Generally, for people whose body mass index (BMI) is 40 or higher, surgical intervention is considered the gold standard and is proven to help people to not only lose large amounts of weight, but also cure their coexisting weight-related conditions such as diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure) and fatty liver disease, leading them to much healthier lives in the long term.

Am I a candidate for bariatric surgery?

Weight-loss surgery is typically appropriate for people who have tried other methods to lose weight or who have a condition that is made worse by obesity.

Generally, candidates for bariatric surgery have:

BMI of 40 or higher (about 100 pounds overweight for men and 80 pounds for women)
BMI of 35 or higher along with a health condition such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension or sleep apnea

Use our interactive body mass index calculator.

What are my bariatric surgery options?

With robotic surgery capabilities, our surgeons perform weight-loss surgery using minimally-invasive techniques, which result in less scarring and a faster, easier recovery. We offer:

Gastric sleeve surgery reduces the size of your stomach, restricting how much you can eat. As a result, you feel full quicker and eat less, while your body continues to absorb nutrients and vitamins as it did before.

Gastric sleeving is the most common weight-loss surgery. Patients typically tolerate it well, often losing up to 70 percent of excess body weight. Gastric sleeve also reduces your body’s production of the appetite-stimulation hormone ghrelin, so you may eat less.

During this minimally-invasive (laparoscopic) procedure:

We remove about 75 percent of your stomach, including the fundus, which contains most of the glands in your stomach that secrete ghrelin.
A narrow tube (or sleeve) of stomach remains.

A gastric bypass, also called Roux-en-Y surgery, helps you lose weight through restriction and malabsorption, which is when the body absorbs fewer calories and nutrients. After the surgery, you’ll feel full sooner and eat less. You will need to take vitamins to supplement your diet.

You may lose up to 80 percent of excess body weight within five years. Gastric bypass may also treat acid reflux disorder because the acid-producing part of the stomach is separated from the esophagus.

During laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery:

Your bariatric surgeon forms your stomach into a smaller pouch.
The surgeon then attaches a section of the small intestine directly to the pouch, allowing food to bypass a portion of the small intestine that absorbs calories and nutrients.

Find a bariatric surgeon near me

Second opinion for bariatric surgery

Undergoing a procedure or surgery can be an overwhelming experience. At the Institute for Surgical Excellence, we offer expert insight on care for a range of routine and complex procedures including weight-loss surgery. Our skilled surgeons will work with you to provide the peace of mind that comes with knowing your options and having expert guidance on difficult decisions.

We’ll meet with you to:

Confirm a diagnosis.
Explore all treatment options, including treatments or procedures that may not be widely available.
Discuss what treatment or care plan is the best fit for you.
Ensure you’re confident in the approach and expertise of your care team.

Get a second opinion

Post-bariatric surgery and weight-loss support groups

We offer a wide range of weight-loss support, including:

Support groups for pre- and post-bariatric surgery patients.
Support sessions for people participating in physician-monitored weight loss.
Fitness and nutrition assessment programs.

Find out more about our classes and support groups.

Frequently asked questions

Bariatric surgery patients typically lose the most weight within the first two years after their surgery. With our comprehensive bariatric team’s help and support, many of our patients lose at least 50 percent of their excess weight and keep it off.

The safest weight-loss surgery is the one that’s best for you. At LVHN, we have two options available, gastric sleeve and gastric bypass. Both safe and effective, our bariatric surgeons perform these weight-loss procedures laparoscopically and using robotic procedures, which promote faster healing for a quicker, easier recovery. Together, you and your bariatric surgeon will decide which surgery is best for you.

Weight-loss surgery patients are expected to lose 50-80 percent of their excess body weight.

At LVHN, our bariatric surgeries are done laparoscopically using robotic capabilities, which means a few small incisions (cuts) are needed to insert a slender camera that helps the surgery team see inside your body, as well as insert other tools needed for the surgery. This makes for shorter recovery time. Most people stay in the hospital for two to three days, and get back to normal activities in three to five weeks.

It’s about more than appearances. Weight loss is about living a healthier, longer and better life. Each person’s journey is unique, but overall, weight-loss surgery can resolve:

Type 2 diabetes, with most patients off their medication before leaving the hospital.
High blood pressure.
Obstructive sleep apnea.
High cholesterol.

Free information sessions

People say the first step is sometimes the hardest. We want your first step to be as easy as possible. That’s why we offer convenient free information sessions for you to learn about our weight-loss surgery program, find out what you can expect pre- and post-surgery and, most importantly, ask questions of our team. Information sessions are virtual and run for about 45 minutes. You will hear from our staff about various aspects of our program and learn the answers to frequently asked questions about insurance, surgical procedures and diet.