Gastric Bypass Surgery

This is a major surgery for drastic weight loss. The surgeon will make a large incision, pull back the fat, muscle and tissue and proceed to staple the stomach lining.  This makes the stomach smaller and prohibits food from entering part of the small intestine- thus the “bypass.”
The surgery is lengthy and the patient can expect to be in the hospital for at least a week. Stringent dietary guidelines follow a gastric bypass. Food is eaten in miniscle amounts, certain fluids are restricted. If the guidelines are not followed, the patient experiences “dumping.”

Dumping occurs when to much food enters the small intestine, or the food is eaten to quickly. The patient will experience, weakness, sweating, dizziness, nausea and even diarrhea soon after eating their meal.  There is also a danger of eating to much food which will make the stomach rupture. Someone with a drinking problem will have a hard time gastric bypass surgery unless they stop drinking prior to the surgery and stay off alcohol for the rest of their life.

If the surgeon is truly concerned about these side effects, he will not perform the surgery on anyone who has not been morbidly obese for at least five years, who does not have a drinking problem or some sort of mental imbalance.

Prior to the gastric bypass surgery there should be psychological evaluations, counseling sessions and one-on-one discussions with your family doctor, surgeon, family members and loved ones.

Most people who undergo a Gastric Bypass experience a quick reduction in weight that is long- term as long as they continue to follow the guidelines.

As with all surgeries, there are risks including infection, leakage, ruptures, blood clots or anemia. Gallstones may also occur.