Gastric bypass surgery is a type of weight loss surgery that decreases the size of the stomach and changes the way food is absorbed which results in weight loss. It is a procedure also known by the roux-en-y gastric bypass.
A new pathway is created for food to be digested in this surgery that allows body to intake and absorb less food. It is a highly effective surgery however it must be accompanied with a healthy diet and exercise regimen to sustain results. Surgery alone is never the answer when dealing with obesity as the body can easily go back to its previous state if not supported with a healthy lifestyle.
• People who are obese or have health problems due to obesity
• People who tried diet and exercise and can not lose weight
• People who tried medicines for weight loss but did not see results
This surgery is performed under general anesthesia during which the patient is fully asleep. The doctor then creates a small pouch in the top part of the stomach using staples. The pouch is then attached to the lower part of the small intestine using stitches. This creates a new pathway for food that bypasses most of the stomach and the first part of the small intestine.
As a result, less food will be absorbed into the body and the patient will feel full on a much smaller amount of food compared to before.
This surgery requires downtime and about 5-10 nights of stay at our ITMT Group facilities. Patients will be put on a liquid food diet for the next week or two after the surgery, then switch the soft food and then eventually to solid food.
Meal sizes will be much smaller than before and eating while drinking will not be recommended.
A dietician will help you work out your new diet and healthy habits to keep the weight off as this surgery must be accompanied with a healthy lifestyle to sustain results.
Patients will have to use vitamins and supplements for the rest of their life to replace those that are normally absorbed in the bypassed section of the small intestine.