Gastric Bypass Weight Loss Surgery

For those looking to lose a considerable amount of weight, the gastric bypass weight loss surgery is commonly performed. Those who are morbidly obese, or those who are 100 pounds or more overweight, can often have a difficult time losing weight using conventional methods. Diet and exercise is not always enough to help many people shed the excess pounds. Being overweight can put a person’s life at risk, too. Overweight people have a higher chance of developing type 2 diabetes, heart conditions, strokes, and hypertension. Sometimes, weight loss surgery is the only method that works.

Gastric bypass weight loss surgery is done to make the stomach smaller and allows food to bypass the small intestines. This makes a person feel fuller much quicker and reduces the amount of food that is taken in at mealtimes. When fewer calories are consumed, the person will lose weight more quickly. During normal food digestion, as food passes through the stomach and enters the small intestines, most of the calories and nutrients are absorbed here. As it passes through the large intestines, less is absorbed and it is excreted.

There are several gastric bypass methods, but the most commonly performed surgery of this kind is called the Roux-en Y weight loss surgery. During this weight loss surgery, creating a pouch at the top of stomach creates a smaller stomach. This usually means using either staples or a plastic band that goes around the upper part of the stomach. Then, the new, smaller stomach is connected to the middle portion of the small intestines, thus bypassing the rest of the stomach and the upper part of the small intestines. This surgery is generally more invasive than other forms of weight loss surgery. This is considered an open procedure. A large incision is made in the abdomen to complete the surgery. However, some surgeons do perform this surgery laparoscopically where only small cuts are made and a camera is guided into the body.

This type of weigh loss surgery generally takes more recovery time than other forms of weight loss surgery. Most people who undergo this surgery can expect a hospital stay of four to six days. If the surgeon chooses to perform the surgery using laparoscopic methods, hospital stays are usually two to three days. Patients that have this surgery, usually have to limit their activities for about five weeks. Most patients can resume normal daily activities after that time.

Although this weight loss surgery is very successful for weight loss, it does have some immediate side effects. One side effect that most patients experience is called “dumping”. This is when food is moved very quickly from the stomach to the intestines. It can cause nausea, weakness, sweating, fainting and sometimes is can cause diarrhea soon after eating. This side effect is not usually long term and the body is able to adjust a few weeks after surgery. Patients who undergo this method of weight loss surgery can expect to lose a large amount of weight and can expect to keep it off if the diet and guidelines are followed carefully.