Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) presents “Ask an Expert”, a series where team members from our Bariatric Centre of Excellence answer questions they commonly encounter. For more information on our Regional Bariatric Care Centre, please visit bit.ly/TBRHSC-RBCC.  This month’s question is answered by Katelyn Methot, Registered Kinesiologist.

Bariatric surgery procedures offered at TBRHSC

Bariatric surgery is a TOOL to assist/improve weight related health conditions and overall quality of life.

Sleeve Gastrectomy – Surgeons create a small stomach shaped like a banana-sized vertical “sleeve”. The remainder of the stomach is permanently removed from the body. There are no changes to the intestine.

Gastric Bypass – Surgeons create a small stomach pouch using the top part of the stomach. A piece of the small intestine is cut, moved, and attached directly to the new small stomach pouch. The remaining stomach and part of the small intestine is bypassed (no food travels through) – however the stomach continues to make gastric juice and help with digestion.Patients can expect to lose 20%-30% of their total body weight within the first 2 years after surgery