Obesity Surgery - Laparoscopic or open surgery?

Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery (patient undergoing a laparoscopic gastric banding operation)


Open Bariatric Surgery (patient undergoing revision surgery to a gastric bypass)



Advantages of laparoscopic bariatric surgery:

  • Shorter time in hospital (normally one night for a laparoscopic gastric banding procedure and 3-4 nights for a laparoscopic gastric bypass)
  • Less pain
  • Less need for intensive care
  • Shorter recovery time needed to return to normal activities
  • Less wound infection rates
  • Fewer incisional hernia
  • Less scaring

No difference between laparoscopic and open surgery:

  • Same weight loss
  • No significant difference in leak rates following gastric bypass surgery

Disadvantages of laparoscopic surgery:

  • Generally a longer operating time (although there is little difference between open and laparoscopic gastric banding)