Gastric bypass surgery

One of the most popular forms of obesity surgery. It is a safe and effective procedure that can lead to dramatic weight loss in many patients. Opting for this procedure does mean that you will have to follow a special diet and take a daily nutritional supplement for the rest of your lifetime.

What is a gastric bypass?

A gastric bypass is a complex procedure which involves dividing the stomach and small intestine. It falls into the restrictive/malabsorptive category of obesity surgery and involves two stages - reducing the volume of the stomach to restrict food intake and then, rearranging the small intestine to affect the absorption of food.

It requires a high degree of skill on the part of the surgeon and can take between one to four hours to complete. It is usually performed under a general anaesthetic and you can expect to stay in hospital for at least two days following surgery. The restrictive nature of the procedure means a reduced calorie intake that will result in a weight loss of 60 to 70% in the first twelve months after surgery. This along with the aftercare plan needs to be followed in order to sustain this weight loss.

There are two type of gastric bypass – the traditional ‘Roux-en-Y’ procedure and the newer ‘mini gastric bypass’.

And, there are two techniques available for gastric bypass:

• Traditional ‘open’ surgery
• Newer ‘laparoscopic’ surgery

Gastric Bypass Surgery Guide sections

• Gastric Bypass Surgery overview
• Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
• Mini Gastric Bypass
• What are the benefits of gastric bypass surgery ?
• What are the risks of gastric bypass surgery?
• Preparing for gastric bypass surgery

• The gastric bypass surgery Procedure
• After the opperation
• Aftercare following gastric bypass surgery
• FAQs about gastric bypass surgery
• Gastric bypass surgery Vs the gastric band