Gastric bypass surgery has many forms and can involve stapling and banding of the stomach as well as bypassing a portion of the small intestine. The most popular method today is a combination-approach that staples the stomach into a small pouch while reattaching the small intestine to the pouch forming a Y-shape so patients lose weight both because they eat less and their bodies absorb less of what they eat.

Mini gastric bypass surgery is less invasive than traditional gastric bypass surgery. By using a laparoscope, the surgeon does not have to make any large incisions in the abdomen thus lowering the risk of large surgical scars or hernia. The procedure also differs from other gastric bypass procedures in significant ways.

As opposed to the popular Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure, which staples the stomach to create a small pouch after which a Y-shaped section of the small intestine is then attached to allow food to bypass the lower stomach and first part of the small intestine, the mini gastric bypass is a newer and somewhat simpler procedure. The stomach is similarly stapled but instead of a small pouch, it is formed into a narrow tube, which is then attached directly to the small intestine about six feet from its starting point, thus also bypassing the initial highly absorptive section.

The benefits of Mini gastric bypass surgery are a shorter, less invasive operation and quicker recovery time. Like traditional gastric bypass surgery, mini gastric bypass surgery is only for the morbidly obese who have not been able to lose and maintain weight loss after significant efforts at lifestyle change in the form of diet and exercise.