Gastric bypass is a weight loss surgery option that offers exceptional outcomes, both terms of disease resolution and weight loss. It is the most commonly performed procedure in the United States, with estimates putting the annual surgical volume at approximately 200,000 according to a 2008 study by the American Society for Metabolic and Weight loss Surgery.
Gastric bypass is one of only a handful of weight loss surgical procedures that combine restriction with malabsorption techniques to achieve these excellent results.
How Gastric Bypass Works
The gastric bypass procedure works in two ways – restrictive and malabsorptive. The restrictive part of the procedure occurs when approximately 85% of the existing stomach is removed, leaving a smaller stomach pouch about the size of a golf ball. This new stomach pouch holds about one ounce of food or fluid, meaning that the patient can only eat a fraction of what they were able to eat before and therefore loses a considerable amount of weight. The second, malabsorptive part of the procedure involves bypassing part of the small intestine, reducing the number of calories that can be absorbed into the body.
Gastric bypass surgery is almost always a minimally invasive procedure, which means that the surgeon performs surgery through tiny incisions – less than ½ inch each – in the abdomen, rather than a single, large incision.
Advantages of Gastric Bypass Surgery
On average gastric bypass offers the fastest weight loss potential of any weight loss surgery procedure. However, over the long-term, we find that all surgical options have very similar results in terms of weight loss and health improvement.
Patients do not have to have a band or port in their stomach.
The gastric bypass is usually a minimally invasive procedure, so recovery time, pain and possible blood loss is minimal.
Many of the diseases associated with obesity, including type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and sleep apnea can be resolved or improved soon after surgery.
Considerations of Gastric Bypass Surgery
Some patients may experience an uncomfortable condition called dumping syndrome, a condition that occurs when food is passed (“dumped”) too quickly from the stomach into the intestines. Dumping syndrome may cause nausea, vomiting, cramping, diarrhea, dizziness or other stomach-flu-like symptoms. It may go away on its own, but patients should contact the surgeon for evaluation if this condition does not clear up quickly.
Gastric bypass patients have more significant dietary restrictions than those undergoing gastric sleeve or gastric banding.
Patients need to take vitamin supplements to avoid the possibility of iron, calcium, Vitamin C and B12 deficiencies.
The procedure is not adjustable or reversible.
The staple line may leak, requiring immediate care and additional surgery.
Like any surgery, gastric bypass surgery has some potential for complications; however, these problems are not common and with help from our team and dedication to a weight loss plan, most patients see excellent results. If you have any concerns about surgery, please talk to us about them and we will answer any questions you may have.
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Gastric Bypass Surgery
Gastric bypass is a weight loss surgery option that offers exceptional outcomes, both terms of disease resolution and weight loss. It is the most commonly performed procedure in the United States, with estimates putting the annual surgical volume at approximately 200,000 according to a 2008 study by the American Society for Metabolic and Weight loss Surgery.
Gastric bypass is one of only a handful of weight loss surgical procedures that combine restriction with malabsorption techniques to achieve these excellent results.
How Gastric Bypass Works
The gastric bypass procedure works in two ways – restrictive and malabsorptive. The restrictive part of the procedure occurs when approximately 85% of the existing stomach is removed, leaving a smaller stomach pouch about the size of a golf ball. This new stomach pouch holds about one ounce of food or fluid, meaning that the patient can only eat a fraction of what they were able to eat before and therefore loses a considerable amount of weight. The second, malabsorptive part of the procedure involves bypassing part of the small intestine, reducing the number of calories that can be absorbed into the body.
Gastric bypass surgery is almost always a minimally invasive procedure, which means that the surgeon performs surgery through tiny incisions – less than ½ inch each – in the abdomen, rather than a single, large incision.
Advantages of Gastric Bypass Surgery
Considerations of Gastric Bypass Surgery
Like any surgery, gastric bypass surgery has some potential for complications; however, these problems are not common and with help from our team and dedication to a weight loss plan, most patients see excellent results. If you have any concerns about surgery, please talk to us about them and we will answer any questions you may have.