Gastric Bypass Weight Loss Surgery 2

Gastric Bypass Weight Loss Surgery

What is Gastric Bypass?

Gastric bypass, also known as the Roux-en-Y, is a combination procedure that uses the restrictive and malabsorptive elements of weight loss surgery. Gastric bypass involves stapling the stomach to make a smaller pouch. Then, most of the stomach and part of the intestines are bypassed by attaching, usually by stapling, a part of the small intestine to the smaller stomach pouch. The result is that patients cannot eat as much as they could prior to the surgery, and their bodies absorb fewer nutrients and calories.
Gastric bypass is the most common weight loss surgery being performed in the United States and is regarded as the Gold Standard in obesity weight loss surgery. At Surgical Healing Arts Center, this procedure can be performed laparoscopically, which is a minimally invasive technique, or via the traditional “open” procedure. Some significant advantages of a laparoscopic procedure include smaller incisions, a faster recovery time and less risk of incisional hernias. The majority of patients are likely to undergo the laparoscopic approach. However, it is important to note that not all patients will be candidates for the minimally invasive approach. Your surgeon will help you to determine your best option.







Advantages of Gastric Bypass

• Rapid initial weight loss
• Higher total average weight loss than reported with other forms of bariatric surgery
• Minimally invasive approach is possible
• Technique has been used longer in the U.S. than other forms of bariatric surgery

Disadvantages of Gastric Bypass

• Cutting and stapling of the stomach and bowel are required
• High risk of complications during surgery than with other procedures
• Portion of the digestive tract is bypassed, reducing absorption of essential nutrients
• Medical complications may arise due to nutritional deficiencies
• Non-adjustable
• Extremely difficult to reverse
• Higher mortality rate than with other weight loss surgical procedures

How Does Gastric Bypass Treat Obesity? 
Using the laparoscopic approach, your surgeon will make several small, one- to two-inch incisions on your outer abdominal cavity and insert small ports into the incisions. Special laparoscopic instruments will then be inserted through the ports to perform the procedure. First, the surgeon will insert a small video camera into the patient’s inner abdominal cavity, enabling the surgeon to view the cavity on a video monitor. Then, the surgeon will create a small pouch—about the size of a hardboiled egg—at the top of the patient’s stomach. Then, a small part of the small intestine is attached to this upper pouch of the stomach. This allows food to enter the small intestine for absorption and bypass the remainder of the stomach and first part of the small intestine.
The smaller stomach pouch limits or restricts the amount of food that the patient can consume. The smaller amount of food also bypasses a good portion of the small intestine, creating a mild malabsorption. In other words, the food skips over part of the small intestine during the digestive process, causing your body to absorb less calories and nutrients than it would have prior to the surgery. The smaller stomach pouch and shorter digestive time often lead to successful weight loss in more than 90 percent of patients.
The remaining portion of the stomach, called the “gastric remnant,” will no longer store any food, but it continues to produce gastric juices. There is no reason to remove it.
Expected Weight Loss 
The gastric bypass procedure can successfully put patients on the road to recovery from clinically severe obesity. However, surgery alone will not ensure long-term success. Surgery is merely a tool that is used to help patients do the work. To reach a healthy weight, patients much adjust their eating habits and exercise patterns.
Most patients lose nearly half of their excess weight in the first year following the surgery and continue to lose weight after this point. There is no guaranteed amount of weight loss. Weight control is the personal responsibility of the gastric bypass patient.
Habits that contribute to successful weight loss include eating three small, well-balanced meals and no more than one snack each day. Patients should avoid carbonated, caffeinated or sugary beverages, as well as alcohol. Patients tend to regain weight if they begin eating larger portions, grazing or snacking between meals, consuming high fat or “junk” foods or drinking high-calorie beverages.
A regular exercise program is very important for promoting and maintaining weight loss. Studies have shown that patients who exercise for 45 minutes at least three times per week lose an average of 18 percent more excess weight than patients who do not exercise regularly.
More than 50 percent of patients achieve good to excellent weight loss results following gastric bypass surgery. Expected weight loss is 55 to 75 percent of the patient’s excess weight.
It has been proven that patients who participate in an extensive after-care program following gastric bypass surgery lose more weight. However, this success depends entirely on whether the patient follows a very restricted diet for the rest of his or her life and makes major lifestyle changes.
Risks and Early Complications 
Risks and complications, including death, are associated with all major surgical procedures. Severe obesity increases the risks of some complications.
Pneumonia
All major abdominal surgeries carry a certain risk for pneumonia. However, this risk is increased during gastric bypass surgery due to the additional stress the patient’s excess weight places on the abdominal wall and chest cavity. The team at Surgical Healing Arts will teach the patient breathing exercises before and after surgery to help reduce the risk of developing pneumonia. These exercises include deep breathing, sitting up, standing and walking the same day of your surgery.
Blood Clots
Another potential risk is venous thrombosis, or blood clots in the leg. In very rare instances, a piece of the blood clot may break off and travel from the veins in the legs to the heart and lungs. This event, called a pulmonary embolism, can be very serious. Our team uses strict measures to help prevent a pulmonary embolism by immediately exercising the patient’s leg muscles to promote blood flow. Walking immediately after surgery is a vital component of these measures. The attending nurse will make certain that you are out of bed and walking within four hours after the surgery. You will also wear leg wraps, or sequential compression devices, while recovering in bed. These leg wraps will automatically compress your calf muscles to promote blood flow. If possible, you will also receive a daily injection of blood thinners during your brief hospital stay to further minimize the potential development of blood clots.
Infection 
Incision infections occur in about five percent of patients who have undergone weight loss surgery. One likely contributing factor is that most patients seeking weight loss surgery have diabetes and are prone to wound infections. The team at the Surgical Healing Arts will closely monitor each patient to ensure that any signs of infection are treated promptly.
Leaking
Gastrointestinal connections, such as the one made during gastric bypass surgery, always have a risk of leaking. The surgeon will perform various tests to determine that the new gastric bypass is securely intact. A leak can be very serious and could require further testing or emergency surgery.
Long-term Complications 
Ulcers 
According to reports, five percent of patients who have undergone gastric bypass surgery have developed an ulcer at the site where the small intestine is attached to the upper part of the stomach pouch. The ulcer could lead to abdominal pain, persistent nausea or bleeding. This complication can usually be controlled through medications. In rare instances, another surgery may be required.
Narrowing
A small percentage of patients may develop narrowing, or “stricture,” of the opening between the new gastric pouch and the small intestine. If narrowing occurs, an outpatient procedure involving mild sedation is routinely used to widen the opening. Multiple treatments may be required, and in some rare cases, additional surgery may be needed to correct this complication.
Vitamin, Mineral and Protein Deficiencies 
More common but no less serious side effects include vitamin, mineral and protein deficiencies. Deficiencies of calcium, iron (needed to make red blood cells), vitamin B12 (needed to make white blood cells and help the nervous system), and protein (for healing and muscle building) are well known issues associated with gastric bypass surgery. Therefore, all patients will require life-long vitamin, calcium, iron, vitamin B12 and protein supplements. Patients will be required to have frequent visits with their surgeon or physician to help prevent any nutritional deficiencies.
Transient Side Effects

After surgery, your body needs time to heal. This process takes tremendous amounts of energy. Furthermore, your body is limited in the amounts of nutrients and calories it can absorb as a result of the gastric bypass surgery. During the first three to six months following surgery, some patients have noted symptoms that include the following:

• Feeling tired, almost like they have the flu
• Dry skin
• Hair thinning or loss
• Loss of taste or appetite

Nearly all of these changes should resolve with time.

Gastric Bypass Weight Loss Surgery

Gastric Bypass Weight Loss Surgery

Obesity Weight Loss Surgery

By Anna Woodward

Obesity Weight Loss Surgery
If you have struggled with obesity, you may be considering having weight loss surgery performed to drop the pounds. Sometimes after considering the options, this is the best solution. Being at a smaller number of the scale does lower the risks of obesity-related diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, depression, and many more. Other options to ponder for creating a slimmer body include medically supervised dieting and enlisting in a fitness boot camp for a period of time.

Surgical Intervention

Another name for weight loss surgery is a bariatric operation or gastric bypass. Various surgical techniques such as these have been performed on patients over the last five decades. Back in the 1950's, fewer than 15,000 of these operations were performed but today more than 200,000 patients have opted for this treatment. These operations work because they limit the absorption of calories and lessen the capacity of the stomach to hold as much food. Some operations use a band to bind the stomach while other methods involve removing a portion of this body part. In order to be an ideal candidate for these procedures, patients should have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more.

Medically Supervised Dieting

Dieting by yourself can be an exercise in frustration. Most humans relate to food as a source of comfort. When life happens, even the strongest willed dieter can fall off their diet plan. Many dieters don't even know what they should or shouldn't eat to lose weight. By having a doctor, nurse, or clinician monitor your dieting, you have a much better chance of being successful. In addition to learning new eating habits, these programs often include counseling to become self aware about triggers that cause a person to overeat. Support groups can play a part in the successful dropping of pounds, as well.

Fitness Boot Camp

Another way to amp up your chances of becoming slender and toning up is to join a fitness boot camp for a period of months. By committing to a program that includes daily exercise, dieting and weigh-ins, after a season you can end up with new lifestyle habits and an attractive physique. Some boot camps are in exotic locales such as islands or along the ocean shores. Losing pounds doesn't have to be drudgery; it can be an adventure similar to a vacation.

If you are tired of yo-yo dieting and of being extremely overweight, there are solutions to try. It's important to talk to your doctor to decide the route to take that's best for you. Some options include weight loss surgery, medically supervised dieting, and enlisting in a fitness boot camp. Being slim and healthy can happen when you make a solid plan.

Gastric Bypass Weight Loss Surgery

Gastric Bypass Weight Loss Surgery

By Neelam Goswami 

Gastric bypass surgery is a viable solution for those people who are severely obese with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 40, and whose weight continues to grow even after taking strict low-calorie diet and frequent fat burning workouts.

The past quarter of the twentieth century has witnessed an epidemic surge of obesity the world over. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data shows that 33.8% of US adults are struggling with obesity, a medical condition that can lead to a number of health hazards like heart diseases, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer.

Severe obesity, sometimes known as morbid obesity, cannot be treated by diet, exercise and weight loss pills alone. Therefore, a large number of morbidly obese people who have tried in vain to lose weight through traditional means now are opting for weight loss surgeries to say goodbye to flab.

There are several types of weight-loss surgery, known collectively as bariatric surgery and gastric bypass is one of them.

Gastric bypass and other weight loss surgeries like lap band, and sleeve gastrectomy surgery hold considerable promise for removing that stubborn body fat in extremely obese people.

Also known by a number of alternative names such as roux-en-Y gastric bypass, laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery, sleeve bypass surgery, Roux-en-Y bypass surgery or RNY bypass surgery, gastric bypass can be very effective in helping the morbidly obese people shed those extra pounds quickly.

It is the most frequently performed weight loss surgery in the United States, with an estimated 140,000 gastric bypass surgeries being carried out in the country every year, as per the estimates of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery.

Surgical Overview
This surgery is performed in two parts. The operation starts with the creation of a small stomach pouch to restrict food intake and subsequent bypassing the initial segment of the small intestine to make the digestive system shorter, reducing ability of the stomach to absorb calories and nutrients from food.

While performing the surgery, a bariatric surgeon shrinks the size of your stomach by creating a small pouch at the top of your stomach with the help of staples so that you eat less, and feel full sooner.

Next, the operation involves bypassing of the duodenum and other segments of the small intestine to cause malabsorption. A new opening from the newly created stomach pouch is made, and a section of the small intestine is attached to it to allow food to bypass your old stomach and the first part of your intestine.

The Growing Popularity of Gastric Bypass
The popularity of this kind of weight loss surgery stems from the fact that obese people usually lose significant amount of weight. Following the surgery, a bypass surgery patient can lose two-thirds of their excess weight within two years when compared to other forms of bariatric surgery.

What's more, weight loss produced by a gastric bypass surgery usually remains lost even a decade after the surgery. As well, the surgery carries fewer complications than do other forms of weight-loss surgery.

Another reason for this surgery's popularity is that it is performed laparoscopically, meaning no large incisions or cuts are made in the abdomen. Since the surgery utilizes minimal abdominal incisions, it makes easier for you to recover faster and in short length of time, it's not suitable for everyone though.

Gastric bypass, indisputably, can end your struggle with obesity and related medical conditions forever. But like any other surgical procedure, it does come with its fair share of downsides. Therefore, be sure to talk to your bariatric surgeon about pros and cons associated with the surgery before you go for it.

Improvements in Weight Loss Surgery Makes Them Safer

By Nina Mehrabani    

Recent studies have shown that more than 200,000 people choose to undergo some type of weight loss surgery each year. These are individuals who have exhausted all other weight loss methods and have seen little to no results. This huge number also includes individuals who need to lose excess weight to help alleviate health problems that are known to be related to obesity. These health problems include diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and many others. The patient and their physician may feel that undergoing weight loss surgery is the best option for them and the health problems that they may be experiencing.

Medical advances have made many of the different weight loss surgeries less invasive than they were in years past. This allows many patients to leave the hospital within one to two days after undergoing surgery. With the surgeries being less invasive, it also reduces the risk of complications arising in patients after they return home making these types of surgeries more popular to even the general population just looking to lose the extra baggage.

Weight loss surgeries require far less incisions and smaller incisions than in the past. The majority are performed through a laparoscopic procedure where only a few small incisions are made to gain access for laparoscopic camera and modified surgeon tools. These tiny incisions consist of no more than an inch to a two inch cut. For the patient, this means far less pain, less complications, and quicker recovery time.

Patients who have undergone a weight loss surgery reduce their risk of death over a period of seven years by 40% and cut their chance of experiencing some type of heart disease by 56%. These numbers provide surgeons validation and give the patients the comfort in knowing that the benefit of surgery greatly outweighs not having it performed. In addition to extending ones lifespan, patients also report an increased level energy and an improvement in their overall lives. They soon discover that they are now able to perform simple tasks and activities that they may have been difficult if not impossible previously. Many patients have shared that by undergoing a weight loss surgery has given them their life back.

Recent studies have also shown that bariatric surgery is also safe for teens. With the increasing sedentary lifestyles of our youth, we are seeing more and more issues with obesity in our teens. Although surgery is never a first option in weight control with anyone, especially teens, it does provide a viable option when all others have been exhausted. When considering this route for a teen, it is highly suggested you get a couple if not more opinions from qualified medical professionals. Qualified weight loss physicians and surgeons will be able to discuss with you your options and help weigh out the pros and cons of such a decision.

After undergoing surgery, patients are required to follow a specific diet plan per their surgeon. These diets are designed to meet their nutritional needs and medical needs in healing, as well as, teaching the patients how to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Once patients adopt these new healthy living eating habits they will be more successful in not gaining the weight back, harming the progress gained by the surgery, and feel an overall positive change in their lifestyle and health.

Lap Band Surgery for Weight Loss

Learn the 2 Main Weight Loss Surgery Techniques

By A Aaronson    

If you are interested in the option of weight loss surgery, you may be wondering how it works. There are two main techniques used by doctors who perform this kind of operation. Both should typically result in the reduction of several pounds, since they are usually performed on patients who need to lose at least 80 pounds. You should get to know the two main techniques when it comes to this type of treatment.

One type of weight loss surgery is considered a restrictive technique. This is because the goal is to shrink the stomach, which means it cannot hold much food after the operation. The result is that you can feel full much quicker than usual, making it easy to stop eating when you need to. During this procedure, part of your stomach is either closed off surgically or removed. After the operation, you should start losing a good amount of the extra pounds rather quickly, because you will be eating far fewer calories than usual. Of course, it may take you some time to get used to this since you might try to eat as much as before simply out of habit, resulting in a stomachache. But once you are used to your smaller stomach, you should be thinner and you may even save money on food.

The other main type of weight loss surgery involves the small intestine. More specifically, the doctor may reduce the size of the small intestine so that less food is absorbed into the body, leading to a reduction in the amount you weigh. Some doctors decide not to change the length of the small intestine, but instead reposition it so it connects to the stomach in a different area. Either way, the result should be the same, in that you do not absorb the calories of much of the food you eat.

Many doctors choose to combine these two methods to create an effective weight loss surgery technique that should suit many patients. In order to qualify, you typically have to have at least 100 pounds to lose if you are a male, and 80 or more pounds if you are a female. In other words, you need to be severely obese to qualify. Having a serious condition related to obesity, such as sleep apnea, may also qualify for you.

Your doctor should be able to tell you if you are a good candidate for any type of weight loss surgery. If you are, you and your surgeon will go over your options and expected outcome. At that point, you should ask any questions you need to make sure you understand the procedure.

Gastric Bypass Weight Loss Surgery

Benefits of Weight Loss Surgery

By Nina Mehrabani 

The short term benefits are what many people are most familiar with when they think of weight loss surgeries. These include the immediate drop in weight and the overall improvement of the general health of the patient. What some may not be aware of is that these health benefits are often reported for years after the surgery has taken place. In many patients who have their six-year follow up visit, the majority of them has lost at least 20 percent of their pre-surgery weight and has successfully kept it off. In addition to keeping the weight off, they also show drastic improvements in their blood pressure levels as well as their diabetes.

Bariatric surgery is most commonly suggested for patients who have a body mass index of at least 40. The number drops down to 35 if they are experiencing health problems such as diabetes or high blood pressure. In addition to the patient's body mass index, they must also present with other weight related health problems to be considered for this type of procedure. There is also an additional list of criteria that potential patients must meet before they are referred to a surgeon to discuss the different types of bariatric surgeries they may choose from. The most common of these surgeries is the gastric bypass. This surgery involves a surgeon shrinking the patient's stomach my making the upper portion of the stomach approximately the size of a walnut and then connecting that area directly to the small intestine.

Some of the most common weight related health problems that can be alleviated by undergoing bariatric surgery include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, infertility and respiratory insufficiency. Each of these health problems can be dangerous enough on their own, but when a patient exhibits multiples of these health problems they are in dire need off making lifestyle changes. Bariatric surgery can help reduce the patient's existing high blood pressure and diabetes. It can also help improve the other conditions as well; this is why so many patients may choose to have bariatric surgery.

As with any type of surgical procedure there are always risks involved. If you are concerned about the risks associated with bariatric surgery, you should consult with your primary caregiver or the surgeon that you may have been referred to. They will answer any questions that you may have about the different types of procedures and the risks that are associated with each.

Lap Band Surgery for Weight Loss