Gastric Bypass Surgery

What is Gastric Bypass Surgery?

The Gastric Bypass Surgery, also called Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass, is a type of weight-loss procedure that combines both a "Restriction" and "Mal-absorption" alteration in digestion. It restricts the amount of food that your stomach holds, limiting the amount of calories and nutrients your body absorbs. Gastric Bypass also changes the gut hormones, which helps you feel full longer and suppresses your appetite.

How is this Procedure Performed?

This procedure entails making a small stomach pouch-about the size of an egg-by dividing the upper portion of the stomach from the rest of the stomach. Next, the small intestine is divided, and the Y-shaped section of the small intestine is reconnected to the newly created stomach pouch. Ultimately, this creates a bypass for food, so it skips part of your digestive system. As a result, you absorb fewer calories which ultimately help accelerates your weight loss. The procedure is performed minimally invasive via small puncture incisions, commonly known as Laparoscopic. Performing this procedure laparoscopically reduces post-surgery pain, scarring, and lead to faster recovery time and earlier return to work or activities.

What are the Benefits of Gastric Bypass?

It is designed to help the morbidly obese person to lose weight in a way that allows them to feel full earlier and to consume less food. Also, an added benefit for the diabetic patients is that the procedure allows for re-arrangement of the intestinal tract so that food bypasses the Pancreas, which gives a much better blood sugar control. The procedure can allow somebody who is morbidly obese and who may have Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, or High Cholesterol levels to rapidly lose weight but also to reverse those conditions so they may no longer need medications for those health issues.

Am I a Candidate?

Any patient who has a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or higher (at least 100 pounds over his/her ideal body weight) is considered Morbidly Obese. If they have been unable to successfully lose weight via conventional methods of dieting and exercising, they should qualify for surgery. Patient with lesser weight but has a BMI greater than 35 (at least 50 pounds over his/her ideal body weight) can also qualify if they suffer from serious life-threatening health illness such as Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, High Cholesterol, and Heart Disease.