Weight loss surgery is an option for people who are morbidly obese, who have tried to lose the weight through diet and exercise and failed. If you are at least 80-100 pounds overweight, and have serious health complications due to your size, bariatric surgery might be right for you. There are different types of weight loss surgery, and if you meet the strict medical criteria, your doctor can help you find the one that best fits your situation and lifestyle. Gastric bypass surgery is a major operation, and involves a lengthy screening process to determine if a candidate is mentally and physically prepared for the procedure. During the operation, the surgeon makes a small pouch at the top of the stomach, and adds a bypass around part of your small intestine. He or she then staples your stomach at the top to seal it off from the remainder of your stomach. As a result, this new pouch only holds an ounce of food and redirects food into the second section of the small intestine. Food no longer enters your lower stomach, but it continues to make digestive juices which mix with those in the small intestine. Some physicians now perform laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery (also called rubber band surgery), where a small instrument with a camera on the end is inserted in small openings in the abdomen. Laparoscopic surgery cuts your hospital stay and usually makes for a shorter recovery. Risks of gastric bypass surgery are blood clots, pneumonia, blood clots and even death. Other complications are stomach ulcers, hernia and gallstones. Patients who have gastric bypass surgery have to follow a strictly regimented diet plan, and eat very small meals throughout their day. Too much food can cause pain or vomiting, so it's important that the patient is prepared to stick to this diet. Adjustable gastric banding is a procedure where the surgeon divides the stomach into two parts with an inflatable band. The band is pulled tightly around the stomach, creating two pouches and preventing the opening from expanding. Vertical banded gastroplasty also divides the stomach into two parts, but there is no bypass involved. It's used less commonly as long-term weight loss isn't achieved. In biliopancreatic diversion, a portion of the stomach is actually removed. However, there is a great risk of complications like malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies. Gastric bypass surgery can drastically change your life, and allow you to avoid obesity related health conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Many patients are extremely happy with the procedure, and the activities they can now enjoy at a healthier weight. However, weight loss surgery is a very serious treatment for obesity, and carries many risks and side effects that must be considered. It also requires a huge dietary commitment from the patient after the surgery. If you decide to undergo gastric bypass surgery you can minimize your risk of complications by preparing yourself not only for a serious surgery, but for a complete lifestyle change.