Mexicali Bariatric Center

There are not many bariatric surgeons qualified and  specialized in performing the Duodenal Switch bariatric weight loss surgery. Duodenal Switch's (DS) complexity is due to the important malabsorptive and metabolic aspects of the procedure which is accomplished through the intestinal bypass effect that the process implies. As a consequence of this procedure, Duodenal Switch  patients eat in a relatively normal  way meanwhile achieving weight loss thru the malabsorbic aspect. 

Another Duodenal Switch (DS) aliases are: Vertical Gastrectomy with Duodenal Switch, Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch (BPD-DS), Gastric Reduction Duodenal Switch (GR-DS).

How does the Duodenal Switch work?

DS results in weight loss through any of these processes:

• Limiting the amount of food intake by reducing the stomach's size, cutting away its left side in an up-and-down motion, with the remaining pouch reduced into a long, slender tube.
• Rerouting the small intestine involves a metabolic effect happening after a modification in the intestinal hormones' behavior, limiting the amount of calories absorbed by the body.

These two parts of the Duodenal Switch (DS) are not reversible, and the patient's stomach size ends up at 3 to 4 oz (90 to 1200cc) aprox. in size. And we analize these two parts in detail.

Restrictive aspect:

This part of the process is virtually considered a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy*. Patients that have been through Duodenal Switch will experience food restriction rates that will change over time within a process called 'pouch maturation', reached about 9 to 12 months after DS surgery. At first stance, the patient's stomach seems small, and it's the starting point for weight loss. Then the stomach will stretch out gradually until reaching a food intake about half or two-thirds the amount of food they would eat prior to surgery. 

The Lap Band System, also known as laparoscopic gastric banding, is an innovative surgical treatment developed to help you achieve significant reduction in excess body weight. Of all the surgical procedures for reducing the capacity of the stomach, laparoscopic banding is the least invasive. The Lap Band System is unique because the band’s diameter is adjustable to meet each patient's individual needs. Other procedures permanently alter the size of the stomach. The name "Lap Band" is an abbreviated and trademarked combination of the words representing the surgical technique and the product employed in this method (“Lap” from laparoscopic and "Band" from gastric band). Using Lap Band, Mexico / Mexicali  Dr. Alberto Aceves has helped more than 2500 patients achieve their weight loss goals.

How does the Lap Band System work?

The Lap Band System's silicone elastomer band is placed around the upper part of the stomach to create a new small stomach pouch which can hold only a small amount of food. The larger part of the stomach is below the band. The stoma (stomach outlet) controlled by the band between the two parts slows down the passage of food from the upper to the lower part of the stomach. This results in an earlier and longer-lasting feeling of satiety (fullness).

To modify the size of the stoma, the inner surface of the band can be adjusted by adding or removing (inflating or deflating) saline, a salty solution similar to fluids found in the body. The band is connected by tubing to a reservoir which is placed well beneath the skin during surgery.

After the operation, the surgeon can control the amount of saline in the band by piercing the reservoir with a fine needle through the skin. If the band is too loose and weight loss is insufficient, the stoma size can be reduced by adding more saline. If the band is too tight, the surgeon will remove some saline. This can be done in a clinic or radiology departmen

VSG /Sleeve gastrectomy, also known as vertical sleeve gastrectomy, is a  procedure that restricts food intake in order to facilitate weight loss. Surgeons at MBC  have bee performing this procedure of the last 8 years laparoscopically, and remove approximately 85 percent of the stomach, leaving behind a small tube or "sleeve." Because the size of the stomach is dramatically reduced during this procedure, MBC gastric sleeve surgery patients cannot consume the same amount of food that they could pre-operatively. Over time, the restriction of calories and food intake, results in significant weight loss.   In addition, the removal of a portion of the stomach actually eliminates some of the hormones which can stimulate hunger. However, unlike other stomach stapling procedure, all of the stomach’s functions are preserved. This means that there are far fewer restrictions on the foods that patients can consume after the procedure. The amount of food that patients can consume, however, is considerably limited. As with all surgical weight loss programs, it is imperative that gastric sleeve patients adhere to a strict postoperative diet. Once goal weight is achieved, usually 1–2 years after surgery, most patients can consume about 1000–1200 calories per day.

The Gastric Sleeve surgery technique used at Mexicali Bariatric Center has proven to have   far superior weight loss results long term than other techniques , patients lose 96% f their excess body weight in under 1 year and 94% of patients are keeping it off long term.