Gastric bypass surgery is a type of bariatric, or weight loss, surgery.
It is currently the most popular inpatient weight loss procedure. There are two major types of bariatric surgery, restrictive and malabsorptive. Restrictive surgeries work by shrinking the size of the stomach, thereby reducing the amount of food you can consume in a sitting. Malabsorptive procedures work by preventing the absorption of calories.
Gastric bypass combines both restriction and malabsorption, dramatically reducing the amount of calories a patient can consume and absorb. This leads to significant, meaningful weight loss. In fact, gastric bypass surgery is often referred to as the “gold standard” of weight loss surgeries because it is so safe and effective, especially when performed by the best sleeve surgeon in Corona.
How Does Gastric Bypass Surgery Work?
Gastric bypass surgeries proceed in two stages. First, the surgeon separates the stomach into two compartments. The smaller compartment will become the patients new, smaller stomach after surgery. The second compartment will be separated from the gastrointestinal tract and no longer participate in digestion.
The second stage of the gastric bypass procedure involves attaching the middle portion of the small intestine, the jejunum, to the new stomach pouch. Bypassing the first portion of the small intestine, the duodenum, reduces the absorptive capacity of the entire digestive tract. This wastes calories in the foods you eat, leading to weight loss.
Depending on the surgeon’s preferences and the patient’s clinical picture, gastric bypass can be performed traditionally, by accessing the digestive tract directly through an incision, or laparoscopically. In a laparoscopic gastric bypass, the surgeon accesses the digestive tract using a scope inserted through several small incisions. A laparoscopic gastric bypass is less invasive than the conventional method, simplifying the healing process. Both procedures have excellent and comparable outcomes in terms of pounds lost, however.
What Are the Advantages of Gastric Bypass Surgery?
Gastric bypass surgery is typically reserved for patients with a significant amount of excess body fat. One year following the operation, patients lose 77 percent of excess weight on average. Over time, 50-60 percent of that weight loss is typically maintained with permanent lifestyle change. A consultation with the best sleeve surgeon in Coronacan help you determine what is right for you.
Another advantage of gastric bypass, and bariatric surgery in general, is that with weight loss comes the resolution of many chronic health conditions associated with obesity. Insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, high blood pressure and joint pain often completely disappear with the weight loss that follows gastric bypass surgery.
Is Gastric Bypass Surgery Right for You?
The most important qualification for someone considering gastric bypass surgery is a willingness to adapt their entire lifestyle post-operation. Immediately following the procedure, patients are instructed to adhere to a liquid diet. They then progress to a pureed diet and, eventually, a regular diet of solid foods.
Patients should never fall back on former habits like overeating, eating high-fat or energy-dense foods or failing to drink adequate fluids. Diet backsliding not only triggers dumping syndrome symptoms. It also compromises long-term results, such as pounds lost or maintenance of weight loss. It is important to maintain an active lifestyle and make healthy choices to maintain weight loss, prevent stomach stretching, and promote overall wellbeing following bariatric surgery.
In conclusion, gastric bypass is a worthwhile option for patients with a BMIover 40 (or over 35 with other conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or obstructive sleep apnea) who are committed to a complete lifestyle transformation. The procedure is safe and effective at promoting weight loss and preventing or even curing chronic disease. If you or someone you love is ready to free themselves of the burden of obesity, schedule an appointment with the best sleeve surgeon in Corona for more information and a full consultation.