Gastric Bypass
Gastric Bypass Q & A
What is a Gastric Bypass?
A gastric bypass, also known as the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, is the longstanding and most well-known form of weight-loss surgery. It is known as a bypass because the completed procedure allows for a smaller stomach pouch, and a shorter segment of small intestines, by bypassing the normal intestinal route.
How is a Gastric Bypass Performed?
At MIB we perform our gastric bypasses through minimally-invasive endoscopic surgical techniques whenever possible. If the patient is suffering from dangerous comorbidities or does not qualify for minimally-invasive practices, we may revert to open surgery.
​
Our surgeon makes small incisions to insert surgical tools into the patient’s abdomen. From there the top of the stomach is turned in to a small pouch. A separate, smaller resectioning of the small intestine is performed. The surgeon brings the bottom half of the intestine upward and connects it to the new stomach pouch. This creates a smaller passage for food and digestion.
How Does a Gastric Bypass Work?
The bodily changes of the gastric bypass surgery stimulate weight loss because:
-
The newly created stomach pouch is significantly smaller than it was before surgery. This causes the patient to eat smaller portions which means they consume fewer calories.
-
The shortened digestive process allows less time for calories to be absorbed.
-
Rerouting the digestive stream of food produces changes in “gut hormones.” These changes promote satiety, suppress hunger, and even reverse one of the primary causes of type 2 diabetes!
What are the Advantages of a Gastric Bypass?
The patients who undergo gastric bypass experience many benefits, like a dramatic decrease in comorbidities and an increased quality of life. The advantages directly related to the gastric bypass procedure include:
-
Gastric bypass patients tend to lose 60-80% of excess weight.
-
Only smaller portions of food may be consumed at a time.
-
There are favorable changes regarding hormones affecting appetite.
-
A general expectancy to maintain upwards of a 50% loss of excess weight.
Who is Qualified for a Gastric Bypass?
If you have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or greater you are automatically qualified for this procedure, or if you have a BMI greater than 35 with comorbidities you may be a candidate for gastric bypass. The best way to know if you are qualified for this procedure is to call us at 954-249-3950 and set up a consultation!
What Should I Expect Post-Surgery?
You will wake up in the recovery room about 1-2 hours before our staff moves you to your hospital room. On average, most patients stay in the hospital for three days. If your procedure was performed with minimally-invasive techniques instead of by open surgery, your discharge is often sooner; possibly after 1 or 2 days. The expected recovery time for a gastric bypass patient is two to three weeks, but varies by patient. Depending on the patients’ individual situations, they may require more or less time to recover.
Can I Still Become Pregnant After Surgery?
Yes! A resounding YES! This is a question we are asked quite often, and is more than a reasonable concern. The only stipulation is that you should wait for all postoperative effects to have ceased, and to have reached a stable weight before you become pregnant. The timetable for this stabilization is generally 16 to 18 months.