Bariatric Operating Time

Have you ever wondered how long it takes to perform Bariatric Surgery? It’s actually quite a quick and simple procedure. Performed laparoscopically, the three most common procedures and their operating times are described below. 

The most commonly performed bariatric procedures are:
• Vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG)
• Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB)
• One anastasmosis (mini) gastric bypass (OAGB)

The VSG is by far the most frequently performed bariatric procedure in Australia. The operation itself takes about 45-60 minutes to perform and is done via a laparascopic (keyhole) approach. Patients will typically spend 1-2 nights in hospital recovering from their procedure and will take about 2 weeks off to rest at home before returning to work.

The RYGB and OAGB are slightly more complicated procedures as they involve forming one or more joins between areas of the digestive tract. These operations usually take around 1.5hours to perform. Again, it is performed using a laparoscopic technique. Patients will typically spend 1-3 nights in hospital recovering from a RYGB or OAGB operation and return to usual activities at about the 2 week mark.

Redo bariatric surgery is always more complicated than a primary procedure and operating times will vary depending on your surgical history.