Gastric bypass is surgery, which is performed for cases such as morbid obesity (when the body mass index is more than 35), sleep apnoea, type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Although it is quite a widespread surgery, a patient should pay careful attention to all the details and consult an experienced surgeon to make sure that gastric bypass surgery should be chosen. The quality in improvements of such operations has led to lower rates of complications in the long run and only 15% of patients experience some complications following surgery. So, if it is performed by a professional surgeon and the patient follows all the recommendations carefully, it can be a safe and effective operation to treat many disorders.
The first Gastric Bypass surgery was conducted in 1967 and since then has been performed hundreds of thousands of times. This surgery can be performed using two methods: open or laparoscopic, each of which can be divided into several other techniques. Laparoscopic bypass is conducted using small incisions and is considered the best option, because it reduces post-operative pain and the length of stay in hospital.
The surgery consists of two steps. The first one makes the stomach smaller. During this stage a surgeon divides the stomach into two sections: the upper smaller one will contain the food you eat and its size will be able to contain only around 1 ounce (28 grams) of food. Due to such a limited size, you will eat less. The second stage is the bypass itself. A part of the intestine will be connected to a small hole in the pouch. The result is your body will consume fewer calories.
Benefits of gastric bypass
This type of surgery has been the most popular bariatric procedure and has proved its effectiveness all around the world. It is the ‘gold standard’ for weight loss surgery.
Gastric bypass benefits include:
– According to collected data and research, you will lose up to 80% of your excess weight within 18 months after surgery;
– It will be impossible for you to eat large meals due to the restricted pouch;
– You will defeat type 2 diabetes or improve it greatly;
– Medications for high blood pressure and high cholesterol will not be needed;
– You will consume less calories and sugar, which will improve your overall condition and boost your metabolism.
If you add physical activity and regular walks to your recovery stage, you will most probably lose more weight than an average patient after a gastric bypass. You will be more confident and cheerful, and full of energy for achieving new goals! 95% of patients reported that their quality of life had improved significantly a year after surgery.
You should pay extra attention when choosing the surgeon who will perform your surgery. This should be a highly professional specialist, who will evaluate your state, examine you thoroughly and propose several treatment options. With careful preparation, you will be able to avoid any complications and significantly improve the quality of your life.
