Morbidly obese people generally find it difficult to lose weight using traditional weight loss methods. Such people choose to either gastric bypass or lap band surgery methods, which helps in reducing considerable amount of body fat.

Before performing any kind of surgery, your doctor will check your health history, your body mass index and other physical health conditions to make sure whether you are fit enough for surgeries or not.

Gastric bypass surgery, most commonly known as stomach stapling involves stapling off a large portion of the stomach so that the stomach size is greatly reduced. It involves cutting and stapling a small piece of the stomach so that it becomes separate from the other portion.

Gastric Bypass Weight loss surgery makes the stomach smaller and thus allows the food to bypass the small intestine. A person after surgery feels much contained while eating and less consumption means less calories. During normal food digestion, as food passes through the stomach and enters into the small intestine, most of the calories and nutrients are absorbed there. However, in case of gastric bypass surgery, the food bypasses the small intestine and hence the body absorbs less of nutrients.

In case of lap band surgery, an adjustable band of silicone is placed around the top part of the stomach. The band is filled with salt water or saline and can be adjusted like a belt so you feel full faster. This band creates a small upper pouch, which serves as a new stomach. It is then connected to a port just under your skin. This allows your surgeon to adjust the band anytime after surgery until it perfectly fits you. When your lap band system is properly adjusted, you won't feel hungry all the time. As you will feel full faster, so you will eat lesser and lose weight in a natural way.

The most obvious difference is that the band can be adjusted after surgery as per your requirement. Because lap band surgery is minimally invasive, the scars are minimal compared to gastric bypass surgery. Patients usually have less pain, shorter hospital stays and a shorter recovery period.

The lap band surgery for loosing weight has fewer risks and side effects compared to gastric bypass surgery. It is considered as least invasive surgery because it requires no cutting, stapling or re-routing of the stomach.

Recovering time after lap banding is usually three to five days. Although initial weight loss is slower with the band than with bypass, the patients of both procedures typically report similar amount of weight after few years.

Cost of both surgeries vary depending upon the place where the surgery occurs, the type of procedure and how long you are required to stay in a hospital. Lap band surgery typically costs less than gastric bypass surgery.