What Is Gastric Bypass Surgery?
Most weight loss surgery involves reducing the size of the stomach by various methods. With gastric bypass surgery not only is the stomach size reduced but part of the bowel is also removed to make the digestive system shorter. This way you can only eat small meals and the food you eat will not be absorbed so well, reducing your calorie intake.
The operation is done under general anaesthesia and the first part of the process is to create a pouch in the upper stomach. This is done using surgical staples. Then a section of the small intestine is removed and the intestines then reconnected to the pouch so that food bypasses some of the digestive system. The surgery can be done using laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery or open surgery. With keyhole surgery you'll end up with about 5 small scars. Open surgery uses a single cut about 30cm long.
Operations usually take two to three hours. If you have open surgery you can expect to stay in hospital for around five days. With keyhole surgery you could be out in only two days.
There are two main versions of gastric bypass surgery - Roux en-Y and the more recent Mini-Gastric Bypass. Roux en-Y is still the most popular form but the less widely available MGB is becoming more popular as it is quicker to do and recovery times are also faster.
For the first 24 hours you will only be allowed to consume clear fluids. Over the next few days you will be able to start a liquid diet (soups, yogurts, fruit juices, etc). After that you will be able to start on liquidised or pureed food. As you and your stomach adapt, more solid foods will be included. You should remember it could be a couple of months before you can eat 'normally' again.
There are several advantages to having gastric bypass surgery.
Unlike lap band surgery there are no post operative adjustments to make so follow up sessions will be far fewer than with gastric banding.
You can get pregnant after the surgery, though most surgeons would advise waiting for at least a year after surgery has taken place.
The initial weight loss you experience will be quicker than other forms of weigh loss surgery. 75% of patients will lose 75% to 80% of their excess body weight in the two years following surgery.
You should remember that gastric bypass surgery should be considered irreversible. It can actually be reversed but is extremely difficult to do and complications from the surgery are high.
The cost of gastric bypass surgery is in the region of £8,000 to £15,000 with those with a higher BMI paying more for the procedure.
Having a gastric bypass is not a miracle cure for obesity, you need to change the way you eat if it is to be successful. The surgery is no more than an aid to weight loss but if you are prepared to change the way you eat then you can achieve substantial weight loss.
The following video shows what happens during gastric bypass surgery.