Roux-en-y Gastric Bypass

The 2 most common weight loss procedures performed today are the roux-en-y gastric bypass and the gastric banding procedure. Gastric banding is almost convenient, it is minimally invasive and does not require a lengthy recovery period, but it is not considered to be as “permanent” as the roux-en-y gastric bypass surgery. The roux-en-y requires a more invasive form of surgery involving the stomach and small intestine.

There are a few different variations of the roux-en-y. What type of roux-en-y you have will depend on how the small intestine is reattached to the stomach. This surgery normally takes 1.5 to 2 hours and will require a 3 to 4 days in the hospital. The total recovery time is about 6 to 8 weeks. You will be following the stages of the gastric bypass diet during this time.

This is a brief overview of how the roux-en-y gastric bypass procedure is performed:

The upper part of the stomach is formed into an egg sized pouch. This is often accomplished by stapling. The lower part of the stomach is then bypassed. With a stomach the size of an egg, the amount of food that you will be able to eat will be greatly restricted. Sometimes the stomach is partitioned into two parts and other surgeons physically divide the stomach into two separate sections. Both sections of the stomach are drained by a reconstruction of the GI tract.

The proximal version of the reattachment of the small intestine is the most common method used in the US for the roux-en-y. The small intestine is divided below the lower stomach opening. It is reattached allowing a portion of the small intestine to be bypassed. This allows for you to feel full very quickly with little food consumption. With a portion of the small intestine being bypassed, less of the calories (and nutrients) are absorbed by the body.

This operation works if you let it. There is potential to regain the weight if you do not make the necessary lifestyle changes. Most bariatric surgery facilities have a lengthy presurgery program as well as an aftercare program for ensuring success and healthy weight loss as a result of this surgery. If you think that you have this surgery and then you can go back to doing what you have always done, you will get what you had in the past.

Losing weight is a process and you should learn as much as you can about what it takes to be healthy. If you are like me, you will eventually be able to eat most of the foods that you ate before. You will not be able to sit down and eat a 6 course meal, but you will have the potential to graze your way through the day. It is essential to deal with any emotional or compulsive overeating tendencies.

Roux-en-y gastric bypass surgery can help you lose a lot of weight, but it will not come without work. It is a lot like many other weight loss programs. It will just give you a jump start. Hopefully, that jumpstart can restore your self esteem and motivate you to do what is necessary to get you where you want to be. Keep in mind that this surgery is a tool and you will get out of it what you put into it.