Gastric Bypass Surgery

Recommended For Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric bypass surgery is recommended for patients suffering from obesity or morbid obesity. As a rule of thumb, patients with a BMI (body mass index) over 40 are considered morbidly obese. Individuals who still struggle to lose weight although they tried all other weight loss methods, such as diet and exercise are also good candidates for the gastric bypass surgery.

Patients suffering from the following can also benefit from gastric bypass surgery: 

● Type 2 diabetes 

● Insulin resistance
● Sleep apnea 
● Hypertension 

● Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
● Asthma 
● Other comorbid conditions associated with a high body mass index

Number Of Trips Abroad

1 trip

Discharge From Hospital

Patient is required to stay 4 nights in the hospital

Duration Of Operation

2 to 4 hours

Overview

Gastric bypass surgery, also known as weight loss surgery or obesity surgery is a type of bariatric surgery often used to treat morbid obesity. There are several types of gastric bypass surgery, depending on the different techniques used to reconnect the small intestine to the stomach. The goal of the surgery itself is to reduce the volume of the stomach, giving the sense of being “full” and change the patient’s physical and physiological response to food. 

Other bariatric surgery procedures include: 

● Gastric Band Surgery 
● Sleeve Gastrectomy

 

Patients who are considering weight loss surgery, they should talk to their surgeons about the different techniques to decide which is best for themselves.

 

Gastric bypass surgery is also one of the preferred procedures in the field of treatment abroad as in almost every procedure. Countries such as Turkey, by offering affordable private treatment cost packages and best prices as well as by having best doctors and clinics in Europe, are chosen often by the patients.

Preparation

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 It Is Performed

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

The 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 it into two. The top section of the stomach (called the pouch) is where the food patients eat will go and helping 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 which can be applied during the gastric bypass surgery: 

• Open Gastric Bypass surgery
• Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass surgery 

 

There are a few advantages of 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 scarafter the surgery 

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

Recovery

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

Risks

Gastric bypass complications can include the following: 

● An allergic reaction to certain drugs 

● Anesthesia risks
● Blood loss 
● Blood clots 
● Stroke or heart attack during surgery 
● Different types of infection 

● Infections in the stomach 

● A blockage of the intestine or stomach

Side Effects

Gastric bypass side effects can include: 

● Moderate swelling and bruising

● Constipation 
● Developing gallstones 

● Mild to moderate discomfort or pain
● Infection of the incision site 
● Dumping syndrome

Success Rates

Based on 513 gastric bypass surgery reviews sets the satisfaction rate at 96%. 

Before And After

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. 

Faq

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 procedure. 

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.

Extra Content

This content is written and reviewed by our medical content team in July, 2019.