Gastric Bypass Surgery

With gastric bypass surgery, a small pouch is created by stapling closed the top portion of the stomach, separating it from the lower portion. Then your surgeon brings up the small intestine and joins it to the pouch. After surgery, food will travel down your throat and enter this small pouch. The volume of food it takes to fill the pouch is very small, which makes you feel full quickly. The food then travels directly into your intestine from the pouch. The digestive juices from your stomach and small intestine will still mix with the food in your intestine, just farther down.

Before Gastric Bypass Surgery	After Gastric Bypass Surgery

How long will gastric bypass surgery take?

Gastric bypass surgery usually takes three to four hours. The hospital stay is generally three to four days. This may vary from patient to patient.

How much weight will I lose with gastric bypass surgery?

Initially, you will lose 1/2-1 pound a day after bypass surgery. Over the next couple of years, most people, on average, lose two-thirds of their excess weight. For example, if you weigh 300 pounds, and your ideal weight is 150 pounds, you can expect to lose about 100 pounds. Of course, the weight loss depends on how well you follow the diet and exercise program after surgery.

Read additional surgery information including what to expect during the pre-op and post-op process. You may also contact the staff at the Center for Healthy Weight and Nutrition at (614) 722-4824.