Whether you are undergoing surgery for the first time or the tenth, understanding why you need it, the risks involved, and the aftereffects will help you make the right decisions and deal effectively with the outcome.

If you are obese, surgery to lose weight may be safer than carrying around those extra pounds. But is losing weight worth the risks associated with surgery? Take a look at the latest research.

Gastric bypass surgery involves bypassing a part of the small intestine that absorbs nutrients. For this reason, these surgeries are referred to as malabsorptive procedures.

Gastric stapling surgery is a type of weight loss surgery that limits the amount of food a person can eat.

Gastric banding is a form of bariatric surgery. It is used to treat people with severe obesity who have trouble losing weight through diet or exercise alone.