Michael Feiz, MD, FACS is a leading expert in bariatric surgery; he's a board-certified, Center of Excellence surgeon with specialized training in bariatric and minimally invasive surgery and an active member of both the American Society for Bariatric Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons. Working out of his offices, Dr. Feiz and Associates, he's helped numerous patients achieve successful and life-saving weight loss. Part of doing his job properly involves helping patients make the correct choice when deciding on lap band vs. gastric sleeve.

Any reputable bariatric surgeon will tell his or her patients that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to weight loss surgery. Dr. Feiz truly believes this, as he also believes that not every obese person is automatically a good fit for weight loss surgery. However, if the many long-term positive effects of weight loss outweigh the risks of undergoing surgery, then Dr. Feiz and his team will help any patient figure out which bariatric procedure is right or, in the case of a failed lap band, decide if a sleeve gastrectomy after lap band is the right course of action.

While Dr. Feiz offers many types of weight loss surgeries, the most popular and effective have been the lap band and the sleeve gastrectomy procedure. Both operations limit the size of the stomach, making a patient feel fuller much easier than previously. However, the lap band is an adjustable, reversible, and minimally-invasive procedure that has been shown to create long-lasting weight loss for many patients.

On the other hand, perks of the gastric sleeve operation are that it removes the part of the stomach that creates ghrelin (the hormone that causes hunger) and the stomach can handle the same foods as before surgery. This procedure might also be performed in a band to sleeve revision when a lap band doesn't provide adequate weight loss. Dr. Feiz offers free consultations and seminars for those who are interested in a weight loss procedure.