Gastric Bypass Surgery

How Does Gastric Bypass Surgery Work?

Gastric bypass surgery involves creating a small stomach pouch. Your surgeon will staple the top portion of the stomach closed, separating it from the lower portion of the stomach. He or she then brings up the small intestine and joins it to the pouch. After surgery, the food you eat will go into this small pouch that has been created and then travel directly into your small intestine. Because the newly formed gastric pouch is small compared to your normal stomach, the food you eat will make you feel full more quickly.

How Long Will Surgery Take?

The gastric bypass surgery generally takes between two and three hours. Your overall hospital stay usually is between two and three days. However, these times can vary from patient to patient

What are the Advantages?

Gastric bypass delivers excellent results. Patients often have rapid improvement of medical problems associated with unhealthy weight. Those who have undergone gastric bypass surgery generally lose from 0.5 to 1 pound per day following surgery. In the first one to two years following surgery, most people lose an average of two-thirds of their extra weight. For example, someone who originally weighed 300 pounds, with an ideal weight of 150 pounds, can expect to lose about 100 pounds. Keep in mind that your weight loss will depend on how well you follow your diet and exercise program after surgery.

What are the Disadvantages and Risks?

While gastric bypass can have many advantages, it is still major surgery with several well recognized complications. These complications can include drainage at the surgical site, trouble swallowing, wound infection, bleeding, pneumonia, abscess, gastric leak, ulcer or hernia.