I am still at the research stage and was wondering if the VSG is sometimes called a mini gastric bypass in the US? I have seen references to this but no information which makes me think it may be an alternative name.

If anyone can enlighten me, I would really appreciate it.

Mini bypass is a different surgery that most surgeons won't do. The vertical sleeve is sometimes the first step to a duodenal switch, although a lot of people get great weight loss with just the sleeve and don't get the DO

In the mini gastric bypass, it is both a restrictive and malabsorptive procedure. My understanding is the stomach is cut so you have an upper and lower stomach. You get malabsorption because the intestinal tract is looped up and attached to the upper stomach.

With the sleeve, they just reduce the size of your stomach. There is no malabsorption involved.

Thank you. I have found some information about this now. Appears to be an op performed by only one Dr in the US.

Here is some additional information if interested:

Gastric bypass surgery - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(from Mac) "

The mini-bypass is not one of the surgeries that the ASMBS has put their stamp of approval on. It's dangerous, for one thing.

Sometimes insurance will pay for a DS and the surgeon goes in and can't actually completely it due to scar tissue or something. So they just do the sleeve stomach part and you get no malabsorption."