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Weight Loss
Surgery
 Type
1. Gastric Bypass Surgery
Type
2. Lap - Band Surgery
Are
you a candidate for weight loss surgery?
The
costs and prices for weight loss surgery
Preparation
for your weight loss surgery
Your
diet and eating habits after your weight loss
surgery
Weight Loss Surgery Type 1. Gastric Bypass Surgery
The gastric bypass procedure is a type of bariatric surgery or
weight loss surgery designed to reduce your food intake if you have
tried and failed to lose weight through diet and exercise. Gastric
bypass can greatly improve the quality of life not only because of
an improvement in appearance and an increase in mobility, but also
because it can reduce the number and severity of health problems
that overweight people are prone to suffer, such as diabetes and
heart/circulation problems.
 What Types of Gastric Bypass Operations Are There?
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Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RGB).
This operation is the
most common gastric bypass procedure performed in the U.S. First, a
small stomach pouch is created by stapling part of the stomach
together or by vertical banding. This limits how much food you can
eat. Next, a Y-shaped section of the small intestine is attached to
the pouch to allow food to bypass the duodenum as well as the first
portion of the jejunum. This causes reduced calorie and nutrient
absorption. This procedure can now be done with a laparoscope (a
thin telescope-like instrument for viewing inside the abdomen) in
some people. This involves using small incisions and generally has a
more rapid recovery time.
Extensive
gastric bypass (biliopancreatic diversion).
In this more
complicated gastric bypass operation, the lower portion of the
stomach is removed. The small pouch that remains is connected
directly to the final segment of the small intestine, thus
completely bypassing both the duodenum and jejunum. Although this
procedure successfully promotes weight loss, it is not as widely
used because of the high risk for nutritional deficiencies.
Gastric bypass operations
that cause malabsorption and restrict food intake produce more
weight loss than restriction operations, which only decrease food
intake. People who have bypass operations generally lose two-thirds
of their excess weight within 2 years.
Are There Risks
Associated With Gastric Bypass Surgery?
Yes. People who undergo this procedure are at risk for:
• Pouch stretching
(stomach gets bigger overtime, stretching back to its normal
size before surgery).
• Band erosion (the
band closing off part of the stomach disintegrates).
Breakdown of staple lines (band and staples fall apart,
reversing procedure).
• Leakage of stomach
contents into the abdomen (this is dangerous because the acid
can eat away other organs).
• Nutritional
deficiencies causing health problems.
Gastric bypass operations
also may cause "dumping syndrome," whereby stomach contents move too
rapidly through the small intestine. Symptoms include nausea,
weakness, sweating, faintness, and, occasionally, diarrhea after
eating, as well as the inability to eat sweets without becoming
extremely weak. Gallstones can occur in response to rapid weight
loss. They can be dissolved with medication taken after the surgery.
Gastric Bypass Recovery and Aftercare
After gastric bypass surgery, many patients spend two to three
days in the hospital, or one to two days for the laparoscopic
procedure. On average, most people require two to five weeks of
recovery before returning to normal activities. For a number of
days, the abdomen will be swollen and sore, and the patient often
feels discomfort. Your doctor can prescribe medications to help you
manage the discomfort.
All the techniques will leave a permanent scar, but scarring is
normally covered by clothing.
Aftercare treatments typically include a dietary plan, regular
exercise, behavioral-modification therapy, and vitamin supplements.
Your weight loss surgeon or plastic surgeon might require the use of
a dietician, an exercise program, and possibly a psychologist for an
extended period of time to assist you in your recovery.
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