Gastric Bypass

What is a Gastric Bypass Surgery?

Gastric bypass surgery, sometimes referred to as Roux-en-Y, is a type of surgery that makes your stomach smaller and reduces the number of calories and nutrients your body can absorb.

During surgery, a small part of the stomach is removed, leaving a small section about the size of an egg. It is referred to as Roux-en-Y because the connection between the intestines and stomach tube looks like the letter Y.

As a result of this procedure, patients can expect to feel fuller more quickly due to the decreased stomach size. Gastric bypass is one of the most effective procedures to help patients maintain or lose weight.

What to Expect from a Gastric Bypass

Gastric bypass surgery is a common and easy procedure. Here’s what you should know before undergoing gastric bypass surgery:

• After gastric bypass surgery, patients can expect a hospital stay of 2 to 3.5 days.
• Patients should expect to take 2-3 weeks off work after gastric bypass surgery.
• Patients will need to regulate portion size, fats and sugars after gastric bypass surgery.
• This procedure can help patients lose 60-70 percent of excess weight within two years after the surgery.

After Gastric Bypass Surgery

After gastric bypass, patients should continue to lose weight or maintain weight in combination with a healthy diet and exercise. Patients should also include supplements, such as a multivitamin, iron, calcium, Vitamin B12 and folic acid in their diets after surgery.

It’s important for patients to follow-up with their doctor and dietician on a long-term basis to ensure a healthy diet and exercise. We also recommend avoiding smoking, as it can put patients at a high risk for blood clots, infection and other life-threatening complications.

Learn more about recovery and the post-surgery journey.

Pros and Cons of Gastric Bypass Surgery

Weight loss is just one of the benefits of gastric bypass surgery. Other benefits include:

• More initial weight loss than Lap-BAND surgery
• No foreign objects placed in the body
• No need for adjustments to make the stomach smaller

However, as with any surgery, there are certain risks involved, such as:

• Blood clots, blockages or leaks
• Bowel blockage
• Fistulas, or abnormal connections between internal body parts
• Hernia, holes or sores
• Gallstones and gallbladder disease
• Nausea or vomiting from food
• Weakness, sweating, anxiety and heart palpitations from sugars and sweets
• If you overeat, the smaller portion of the stomach may stretch

Banner Health’s team of experts is here to help you on your weight loss surgery. Talk to your doctor to learn more and determine if gastric bypass is right for you.