Gastric Bypass Surgery

How many trips do I need to take abroad to complete the procedure? 

You will need 1 trip abroad to complete the whole procedure, and follow up with your local doctor. 

How long should you stay in the hospital after the surgery? 

The patient is required to stay 4 nights in the hospital.

How long will the surgery take? 

Gastric bypass surgery will take between 2 to 4 hours.

What you should avoid before the surgery? 

The patient should stop smoking at least 3 weeks before undergoing surgery, as smoking can increase the risk of complications and endanger the healing process. The patient also should stop the intake of vitamin E, blood thinners such as aspirin and ibuprofen at least 2 weeks before surgery.

How Gastric Bypass is performed? 

The patient is first administered general anesthesia before the procedure can begin, making it painless. 

Gastric bypass surgery can be divided into two main parts: 

In the first part, the surgeon will create the smaller upper stomach and the larger lower stomach by using staples, effectively dividing them into two. The top section of the stomach (called the pouch) is where the food patients eat will go and help them feel “full” with very little effective food intake. This will help the patient eat less and lose weight.

The upper stomach can hold about 1 ounce (oz) or 28 grams (g) of food before it goes into the small intestine.

The second step is the bypass. The surgeon will connect the small intestine to the smaller upper stomach. The ultimate goal of the surgery is to help the patient’s body will absorb fewer calories.

There are two main techniques that can be applied during gastric bypass surgery: 

• Open Gastric Bypass surgery
• Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass surgery 

There are a few advantages of the laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery technique, as it is a minimally invasive procedure: 

• Faster recovery and a shorter hospital stay 
• Less discomfort and pain during recovery
• Much smaller scars after the surgery 

In both cases, the surgery lasts anywhere between 2 and 4 hours, and the gastric bypass surgery recovery time may begin.

The Gastric Bypass Recovery Timeline

Most of the patients stay in the hospital for 3 to 5 days and may return to normal activities in 3 to 5 weeks.

Side effects that are common with Gastric Bypass

• Moderate swelling and bruising
• Constipation 
• Developing gallstones 
• Mild to moderate discomfort or pain
• Infection of the incision site 
• Dumping syndrome

The gastric bypass success rate

Many patients report a satisfaction rate of 96%. 

What to expect after gastric bypass?

Patients can expect to lose anywhere between 4 to 9 kilograms every month after the procedure. On average, gastric bypass weight loss is around 60% of the patient’s extra weight – this results in a healthier lifestyle with reduced risk from comorbidities.

If the patients follow the aftercare and dieting instructions carefully, they can reach their best outcome and maintain it more easily. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is There A Gastric Bypass Alternative?
Yes, there are many types of bariatric surgery, including lap band surgery and gastric sleeve surgery as alternative treatments to gastric bypass procedures. 

Gastric Bypass Vs. Gastric Sleeve – What Is the Difference?
In gastric sleeve surgery, a large part of the stomach is surgically removed and the surgeon gives the new stomach the appearance of a "sleeve." 

Gastric Bypass Vs. Lap Band – What Is the Difference?
Gastric lap band surgery uses a band to divide the stomach into two portions. In this procedure, the stomach is not stapled or changed in any way - the lap band creates a blockage in the upper stomach, helping the patient eat less.