Gastric bypass, also called Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, is a type of weight-loss surgery where a small pouch is created from the stomach and connected directly to the second section of intestine.
Following a gastric bypass surgery, swallowed food enters into this small pouch of stomach and then directly into the small intestine, thus bypassing the remaining big part of the stomach and the first section of small intestine.
Being one of the most common types of bariatric surgery performed in the world, gastric bypass is usually done when diet and exercise haven’t worked or when the patient has serious body weight-related health problems.
Patients do not lose pounds and inches at the same pace from week to week. Weight loss is greatest in the first three months after surgery. A person usually loses at least 20 percent of his/her excess body weight within the first two months, and 50-100 percent at one year, depending on how well they adhere to the program. As you begin to near your weight loss goal, weight loss will slow to approximately one to three pounds per week. Remember that men generally lose weight faster than women.
Women who are overweight sometimes have reduced fertility, and losing the weight increases the fertility. We recommend that women avoid pregnancy for the first year to 18 months after surgery. After that period, a woman should have a normal pregnancy. It is essential to discuss any plans for pregnancy with your surgeon, as well as an obstetrician, before surgery.
After gastric bypass, your body may be less able to tolerate “refined” sugars or high amounts of fats. When these foods are eaten, your pancreas is signaled to secrete insulin and cause fluids to be drawn into the intestine. This causes a reaction called the “dumping syndrome”. Common symptoms include sweating, nausea, dizziness, tiredness, cramps and diarrhea. These symptoms typically last about 30-90 minutes, depending on what and how much the person has eaten. The symptoms can mimic the flu. It is not fatal, but it can be quite uncomfortable.
Certain vitamins and minerals will not be absorbed well enough for you to meet the recommended US daily requirements. This is especially true of Vitamins B6, B12, Folate, calcium and the mineral iron. For this reason, we strongly recommend that you take two multivitamins with minerals and calcium citrate daily, and a dose of Vitamin B12 under your tongue weekly for the rest of your life.
With dramatic weight loss, there is often the unintended consequence of excess sagging skin. Post-bariatric surgery is a procedure that deals with excess skin and aims to tighten the body contours to a more natural and youthful shape.
Post-bariatric surgery can remove or tighten loose skin around the arms, neck, abdomen, and thighs. The procedure is a combination of various procedures, such as the thigh lift, neck lift, arm lift, and tummy tuck, which are all designed to remove excess skin. In many cases, multiple sessions may be necessary, depending on the amount of excess skin to be removed. You can find more information on our Postbariatric Surgery page.
