Gastric bypass
surgery is the top weight loss surgery in the United States. It’s considered
safer and more effective than all other weight loss surgeries. When accompanied
by behavioral modification through diet as well as exercise, gastric bypass
surgery can improve the quality of life.
How Gastric Bypass Surgery Works Gastric bypass surgery achieves weight loss
by altering the digestive system. The procedure takes a small section of the
stomach and attaches it to the lower intestine, bypassing the lower stomach and
nutrient-absorbing duodenum. The small pouch collects food, limiting the amount
a patient can intake and digest.
Am
I a Candidate for Gastric Bypass Surgery
Gastric bypass surgery may
be an option for patients who have not achieved weight loss results through
traditional diet and exercise. Gastric bypass surgery is for people who are
morbidly obese and suffer from weight related health conditions. General
criterion for gastric bypass surgery is a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or
greater. You may also qualify with a BMI of 35 or higher if you have weight
related health conditions.
Is Gastric Bypass Surgery Right for Me?
An important thing to keep
in mind is that the gastric bypass surgery procedure is not a substitute for
traditional weight loss methods. If you elect to have gastric bypass surgery,
you must follow specific diet and exercise directions assigned by the medical
staff. Your success is largely dependent on your ability to develop healthy
eating and exercise habits. In order to qualify for
gastric bypass surgery, you will need to complete a thorough screening process.
An examination by a staff of medical professionals, including a physician,
surgeon, psychologist and dietitian is necessary. The doctors will evaluate
your medical history, current health risks and psychological profile to
determine whether gastric bypass surgery is a suitable route to take.
What is the procedure like?
Gastric bypass surgery
usually takes around four hours to complete. Because the procedure requires a
general anesthesia, a hospital stay between three and five days is required.
Medical professionals will also want to monitor the success of your surgery.
Following the procedure, you will follow a strict 12-week diet in order to
slowly reintroduce solid foods. Adjusting to the new size of your stomach can
prove somewhat difficult. You’ll need to eat very small meals throughout the
day to avoid vomiting and chest pains. You can increase your food intake with
time, but never to the level prior to gastric bypass surgery. Considerable
weight loss occurs in most patients who successfully follow a recommended diet
and exercise program outlined by the doctor. The average loss of excess weight
is 75 percent after one year. Continued efforts on your part contribute to even
more weight loss.
Gastric Bypass surgery and Cosmetic Surgery
A number of options for
cosmetic surgery are available to deal with excess skin after weight-loss
surgery. Patients who have lost a substantial amount of weight may benefit from
a body lift, which provides a comprehensive approach to body contouring for
excess skin. A body lift can also be combined with cosmetic laser surgery to
diminish scars and stretch marks.
Understand the Risks of Gastric Bypass Surgery
As with all other surgeries,
gastric bypass surgery comes with its own set of possible risks and
complications. Some of the more serious risks include blood clots in the legs,
stomach leakage, pneumonia and death. Other less severe complications may
include vomiting and diarrhea, nausea, dehydration, gallstones, hernia and
vitamin deficiency.
