Gastric
Bypass Weight Loss Surgery
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For those looking to lose a considerable
amount of weight, the gastric bypass weight loss surgery is
commonly performed. Those who are morbidly obese, or those
who are 100 pounds or more overweight, can often have a
difficult time losing weight using conventional methods.
Diet and exercise is not always enough to help many people
shed the excess pounds. Being overweight can put a person’s
life at risk, too. Overweight people have a higher chance of
developing type 2 diabetes, heart conditions, strokes, and
hypertension. Sometimes, weight loss surgery is the only
method that works.
Gastric bypass weight loss surgery is done to
make the stomach smaller and allows food to bypass the small
intestines. This makes a person feel fuller much quicker and
reduces the amount of food that is taken in at mealtimes.
When fewer calories are consumed, the person will lose
weight more quickly. |
During normal food digestion, as food passes
through the stomach and enters the small intestines, most of the
calories and nutrients are absorbed here. As it passes through
the large intestines, less is absorbed and it is excreted.
There are several gastric bypass methods, but the
most commonly performed surgery of this kind is called the
Roux-en Y weight loss surgery. During this weight loss surgery,
creating a pouch at the top of stomach creates a smaller
stomach. This usually means using either staples or a plastic
band that goes around the upper part of the stomach. Then, the
new, smaller stomach is connected to the middle portion of the
small intestines, thus bypassing the rest of the stomach and the
upper part of the small intestines. This surgery is generally
more invasive than other forms of weight loss surgery. This is
considered an open procedure. A large incision is made in the
abdomen to complete the surgery. However, some surgeons do
perform this surgery laparoscopically where only small cuts are
made and a camera is guided into the body.
This type of weigh loss surgery generally
takes more recovery time than other forms of weight loss
surgery. Most people who undergo this surgery can expect a
hospital stay of four to six days.
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If the surgeon chooses to
perform the surgery using laparoscopic methods, hospital
stays are usually two to three days. Patients that have this
surgery, usually have to limit their activities for about
five weeks. Most patients can resume normal daily activities
after that time.
Although this weight loss surgery is very
successful for weight loss, it does have some immediate side
effects. One side effect that most patients experience is
called “dumping”. This is when food is moved very quickly
from the stomach to the intestines. It can cause nausea,
weakness, sweating, fainting and sometimes is can cause
diarrhea soon after eating. This side effect is not usually
long term and the body is able to adjust a few weeks after
surgery. Patients who undergo this method of weight loss
surgery can expect to lose a large amount of weight and can
expect to keep it off if the diet and guidelines are
followed carefully. |
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