There are a variety of types of obesity surgery, both cosmetic and physiological, available to those who are determined to lose excess weight. These types of obesity should be weighed carefully against other methods of weight control, such as diet and exercise, hypnosis and diet support groups; obesity surgery, as all types of surgery, carries with it significant risks of complication and chances of failure.

Obesity surgery includes both immediate weight loss surgery - in which fat is physically cut away from the body - and physiological weight loss surgery. A tummy tuck is an example of immediate weight loss obesity surgery. Liposuction is another type of obesity surgery in which fat is stripped away. Both of these obesity surgeries address problematic areas - hips, buttocks, thighs, belly, upper arms - and provide an immediate weight loss and cosmetic improvement.

These types of obesity surgery are primarily cosmetic, providing immediate but often short-lived results, which may be suitable for some. For those with serious health concerns, however - those with diabetes, high blood pressure, higher risk of cardiac disease, obstructive sleep apnea, for example - a more suitable approach to obesity surgery may involve more physiological changes.

This means that obesity surgery restricts the amount of food that is consumed and/or absorbed. This type of obesity surgery is classified as "bariatric" surgery and includes gastric bypass and lap banding surgery, as well as other, more drastic and less commonly performed surgeries such as biliopancreatic bypass.

In all of these types of obesity surgery, a small portion of the stomach is segmented off from the main portion of the stomach; this small "pouch" is usually around one to two ounces in size and is the only portion of the stomach available to accept and process food. Another feature of these types of obesity surgery is that they often involve a means of "bypassing" digestion and absorption of any food that is consumed. This is accomplished by connecting the stomach to a lower portion of the intestines, so that food does not get totally digested and absorbed.

Any obesity surgery is considered major, and so careful consideration should be given prior to undertaking any type of obesity surgery.