Six ways to lose the weight.
One that's right for you.
Gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, SADI-S, gastric balloon, Lap Band, and revision surgery. Compare expected weight loss, recovery time, and who each one actually suits, then let Dr. El Djouzi help you pick. Most insurance accepted, including BCBS Illinois, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, and Cigna.
Choose the right procedure for you
No two patients arrive with the same history, so no two leave with the same plan. Dr. El Djouzi recommends the procedure that fits your BMI, medical history, goals, and the life you actually want to live afterward. Here's every option we offer.
Gastric Sleeve
About 80% of the stomach is removed, leaving a narrow banana-shaped pouch. You eat less because the stomach holds less, and you feel less hungry because the part that produces ghrelin is gone. Done robotically through a few small incisions.
Gastric Bypass
A small stomach pouch is created and a section of small intestine is rerouted. If you have type 2 diabetes, severe acid reflux, or a higher BMI, this is often the stronger choice. Robotic Roux-en-Y technique.
SADI-S
Single-anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass with sleeve. It pairs a gastric sleeve with one intestinal bypass and produces the largest weight loss of anything we offer. Built for BMI 50+ or serious metabolic disease.
Gastric Balloon
A soft silicone balloon placed in the stomach by endoscopy. No incisions and no surgical anesthesia. It stays six months, then comes out. A reasonable starting point at BMI 30–40 if you are not ready for surgery.
Lap Band
An inflatable silicone band around the upper stomach, tightened or loosened through a port under the skin. Far less common now than sleeve or bypass, but still the right answer for a small number of patients.
Bariatric Revisions
Weight regain, reflux that came back, a band that slipped. Dr. El Djouzi has done hundreds of revisions, including sleeve-to-bypass conversions and re-sleeves. A first surgery that stalled is not the end of the road.
The numbers, compared
Typical outcomes, not promises. Results vary with how closely you stick to nutrition, activity, and follow-up. Dr. El Djouzi will give you realistic numbers for your case at your consultation.
| Procedure | Avg. excess weight loss | Hospital stay | Recovery | Reversible? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gastric Sleeve | 60–70% | 1 night | 2–4 weeks | No | BMI 35–50, healthy candidates |
| Gastric Bypass | 70–80% | 1–2 nights | 3–4 weeks | Technically reversible | Type 2 diabetes, severe GERD |
| SADI-S | 80–90% | 2 nights | 4–6 weeks | No | BMI 50+, metabolic disease |
| Gastric Balloon | 30–40% | Outpatient | 3–5 days | Yes, removed at 6 months | BMI 30–40, surgery-averse |
| Lap Band | 40–50% | Outpatient | 1–2 weeks | Yes | Selected candidates |
| Revision Surgery | Varies | 1–2 nights | 3–4 weeks | Depends on procedure | Failed prior bariatric surgery |
Averages drawn from published bariatric outcomes and our own results at 12–24 months.
Gastric Sleeve
- Excess weight loss
- 60–70%
- Hospital stay
- 1 night
- Recovery
- 2–4 weeks
- Reversible
- No
- Best for
- BMI 35–50, healthy candidates
Gastric Bypass
- Excess weight loss
- 70–80%
- Hospital stay
- 1–2 nights
- Recovery
- 3–4 weeks
- Reversible
- Technically reversible
- Best for
- Type 2 diabetes, severe GERD
SADI-S
- Excess weight loss
- 80–90%
- Hospital stay
- 2 nights
- Recovery
- 4–6 weeks
- Reversible
- No
- Best for
- BMI 50+, metabolic disease
Gastric Balloon
- Excess weight loss
- 30–40%
- Hospital stay
- Outpatient
- Recovery
- 3–5 days
- Reversible
- Yes, removed at 6 months
- Best for
- BMI 30–40, surgery-averse
Lap Band
- Excess weight loss
- 40–50%
- Hospital stay
- Outpatient
- Recovery
- 1–2 weeks
- Reversible
- Yes
- Best for
- Selected candidates
Revision Surgery
- Excess weight loss
- Varies
- Hospital stay
- 1–2 nights
- Recovery
- 3–4 weeks
- Reversible
- Depends on procedure
- Best for
- Failed prior bariatric surgery
Still not sure which one?
Take the one-minute eligibility quiz, or skip straight to a virtual consultation with Dr. El Djouzi. Most patients are seen within 48 hours, and your insurance is verified before you ever walk in.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know which bariatric procedure is right for me?
It comes down to your BMI, your medical history, your goals, and how you actually live. Patients with type 2 diabetes or severe acid reflux usually do best with gastric bypass. Healthy candidates in the BMI 35–50 range are typically good fits for the sleeve. At BMI 50+, SADI-S may be the stronger option. Dr. El Djouzi makes the recommendation in your consultation, after reviewing your history and hearing what you want out of this.
What is the BMI requirement for bariatric surgery?
ASMBS guidelines recommend surgery for adults with a BMI of 40 or higher, or 35–39.9 with at least one obesity-related condition such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, or severe joint disease. Insurance criteria are often stricter than the guidelines. The gastric balloon is available down to BMI 30. We verify your specific coverage before you schedule anything.
How much weight will I actually lose?
Average excess weight loss runs 60–70% with the sleeve, 70–80% with bypass, and 80–90% with SADI-S, usually over 12 to 24 months. Excess weight means the gap between your current weight and your ideal body weight. What separates patients who keep it off is nutrition, activity, and showing up to follow-up visits, which is why our nutritionist and behavioral counselor are part of the package rather than an add-on.
Will my insurance cover the surgery?
Most commercial plans we accept cover bariatric surgery once medical criteria are met. We work with BCBS Illinois, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, TriCare, and Medicare. Coverage usually requires documented BMI, comorbidities, a supervised diet history, and a psychological evaluation. We verify your benefits before anyone talks to you about out-of-pocket cost. Self-pay options are available too.
How long is recovery after bariatric surgery?
Most patients go home after one night and are back at a desk job in one to two weeks. Physical activity comes back gradually over four to six weeks. Because 99% of procedures are done robotically through small incisions, recovery is faster and less painful than open surgery. You get written post-op instructions, and our team is reachable around the clock through the first weeks.
Is bariatric surgery safe?
At an MBSAQIP-accredited center, the complication rate is lower than knee or hip replacement. Dr. El Djouzi has personally performed more than 2,400 procedures with outcomes above national benchmarks. Risk still varies by procedure and by patient, and it gets reviewed with you in detail before anything is scheduled.
What if my first bariatric surgery didn't work?
Weight regain, returning reflux, and band complications are common enough that revision is its own specialty. Dr. El Djouzi has performed hundreds of revision cases, including sleeve-to-bypass conversions, re-sleeves, and band removals converted to sleeve or bypass. Every case gets reviewed on its own, and sometimes the honest answer is medical weight management rather than another operation.
Where will my surgery be performed?
Surgeries happen at AdventHealth Bolingbrook and other MBSAQIP-accredited partner hospitals in the western Chicago suburbs. Pre-op visits and follow-up care are at our Darien office (2821 83rd Street) and Bolingbrook office (420 S. Schmidt Rd., Suite 235). New-patient virtual consultations are usually available within 48 hours.
Ready to start?
Book a virtual consultation with Dr. El Djouzi, typically within 48 hours. Insurance verified in advance. Surgery in Darien and Bolingbrook, with a bariatric nutritionist and behavioral counselor supporting you before and after.