If you've been working with your doctor to get your acid reflux under control, but nothing seems to help, your doctor might consider surgery. However, surgery is usually the last option for acid reflux treatment. This medical condition can often be managed by lifestyle changes such as losing weight and not eating a few hours before bed. If changes to your diet and lifestyle don't help, your doctor might recommend over-the-counter medications or prescription drug treatments. If nothing eases your discomfort, surgery could be needed. Here are four types of surgical acid reflux treatments.

1. Weight Loss Surgery

Weight loss surgery might help your acid reflux indirectly. Since obesity is linked to acid reflux, losing weight could help your symptoms. If you've tried, but you can't lose weight on your own, then your doctor might talk to you about weight loss surgery to help you get closer to what you should weigh.

2. Magnetic Beads

Your doctor might recommend putting a ring of magnetic beads around the lower part of your esophagus. The rings stick to each other and hold the lower part of your esophagus closed so acid can't wash up in your esophagus. You'll still be able to swallow food, although you may need to alter your eating habits. Your doctor may want you to eat small meals several times a day so you swallow often. This keeps scar tissue from forming around the beads. Minimally invasive surgery is required to place the beads on your esophagus.

3. Fundoplication

This acid reflux treatment involves wrapping part of your stomach around your lower esophagus. This tightens the muscle and keeps acid from backing up in your esophagus. This is usually a minimally invasive surgery, but the doctor might also do this surgery through your throat so you don't need an incision. A fundoplication done this way is called a transoral incisionless fundoplication. The doctor works through your throat to place fasteners on your lower esophagus rather than wrap your stomach around it.

4. Hernia Surgery

If you have a hiatal hernia and it contributes to your acid reflux, your doctor might recommend hernia surgery. This might be combined with another acid reflux treatment such as weight loss surgery or fundoplication. If your stomach has protruded through your diaphragm, the surgeon may need to pull it down and reposition it to relieve the pressure that causes acid to wash up your esophagus.

Your doctor considers your unique situation including your weight, age, and general health when deciding if surgery is appropriate for you and what type you should have.

For more information, contact a local company, like Gastro Health.