What is a Gastric Bypass?

Gastric Bypass or Roux en Y uses a combination of restriction and malabsorption.

With gastric bypass surgery patients lose weight because the amount of food eaten is greatly limited by a smaller stomach size and absorption of some calories is also limited. During Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, your bariatric surgeon uses staples to create a small pouch at the top of the stomach. This pouch is then connected to the lower part of the small intestine. Foods will no longer travel through the lower part of the stomach or the upper intestine. The new stomach pouch can hold only few ounces of food at a time. Follow-up care is essential for the Bypass patient as care must be taken to monitor nutrition. The Gastric Bypass, whether performed laparoscopically or as an open surgery is not reversible.

Laparoscopic Bypass

Most Bypass Surgery today is performed laparoscopically or as a minimally invasive procedure. This means that your bariatric surgeon will perform the surgery through 5 or 6 small incisions with the assistance of a video camera. Minimally invasive surgery offers fewer risks for the obese patient and many realize a short recovery time.

A time tested Bariatric Solution

The Gastric Bypass has been performed more than any other weight loss procedure.

The Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass was first performed in 1993. Standards for the procedure were set by the FDA in 1991 and generally require a patient to have a BMI of 40 or higher which places them in the severely obese category.

Who should you consider the Gastric Bypass?

• Bypass is not for everyone, only you and your surgeon can decide which procedure is best for you.
• Since Bypass has been studied longer, it has a slightly increased likelihood for insurance coverage when compared to other weight loss procedures.
• Those who need to lose their weight quickly because of a health issue may find Bypass to the the best solution.
• Bypass requires major lifestyle changes. You should work with your bariatric surgeon and the TLCEdge staff to make sure you completely understand these.
• Sometimes Bypass is performed on people who are heavier than the patients who receive other types of weight loss surgery or those who suffer from multiple morbidities. These factors may lengthen your recovery time and your return to work.

Advantages of the Gastric Bypass

• Decrease in appetite, you will not suffer hunger as with diets.
• Weight loss is quick, most people lose 75% of the weight they want to lose in the first year after bypass.
• Greatly improved quality of life and mobility. Enhancement of life style as activity becomes easier.
• Resolution of Type II Diabetes and other obesity related co-morbidities.

Disadvantages of the Gastric Bypass

• The procedure is not reversible.
• The procedure is slightly riskier than the Gastric Banding procedure.
• The most common complaint is some leakage immediately after surgery which may require the use of a temporary drain – this has been reported to happen in approximately 1 in 100 cases.
• Dumping syndrome (patients have trouble eating sweets) and vitamin deficiencies which require daily vitamin and mineral supplements are possible with this procedure.