Join our Patient Support Community on Facebook today to engage with real patients of weight loss surgery abroad.
There are several types of bariatric surgery. however, one option that is open to anyone who needs to lose a lot of weight is a Mini Gastric Bypass. This type of surgery, one of the procedures performed at our Weight Loss Riga facility in Riga, Latvia, makes your stomach smaller while also rerouting the intestines. It helps patients by making them feel full more quickly when eating and by allowing them to absorb fewer minerals and calories. As a result, they can lose around three-quarters of their extra weight within two years and see significant health improvements.
The most commonly performed form of gastric bypass is the Roux en Y gastric bypass. However, when compared with this operation, the mini gastric bypass shows similar health improvements and weight loss effects. As an added advantage, this it reduces the chance of any complications and unpleasant side effects. It is also, most importantly, reversible which the Roux en Y bypass is not.
If you’re interested in finding out more about whether the mini gastric bypass could be the right option for you at a facility like Weight Loss Riga, read on and get all the information that you’re looking for.
How Is The Mini Gastric Bypass Carried Out?
As you might guess from its name, the mini gastric bypass is actually a simpler form of the more traditional RNY (Roux en Y) bypass surgery which can be carried out in under two hours.
Like the RNY bypass, this procedure serves two functions. Not only does it limit the amount that you’re able to eat before you feel full, but it also prevents the absorption of many more minerals and calories.
The procedure is performed via keyhole surgery. During the surgery, the surgeon reduces your stomach size by three quarters, leaving the remainder of your stomach still attached to the small intestines and attaching your new stomach around six feet further down your small intestine. This bypasses the upper part of your small intestines, allowing the stomach’s digestive juices to meet the food lower down your intestines.
How Much Weight Will I Lose?
If you opt for a mini gastric bypass, you may lose as much as three-quarters of your additional weight within just one year. Patients undergoing this procedure usually lose significant amounts of weight rapidly, and generally, manage to maintain that weight loss in the long term. After just three months, many patients will have lost a third of their excess weight. Most patients reach their peak weight loss after 1 – 2 years following their procedure. While they tend to gain some back, the long-term results remain impressive, with average patients managing to maintain 70% of their weight loss ten years after their operation.
What Are The Health Benefits Of A Mini Gastric Bypass?
As well as impressive weight loss, there are a number of health benefits associated with having a mini gastric bypass. It can improve or even cure diabetes, hypertension and sleep apnoea as well as around a dozen other medical conditions relating to obesity. Patients see an 89% reduction in their risk of an early death and 95% of patients report improved quality of life.
Almost all patients see their asthma improve or resolve completely, with an almost 80% reduction in heart problems. Patients suffering from degenerative joint problems due to their weight often see complete resolution of their issues, while 83% of patients with Type II Diabetes experience resolution of their symptoms. Almost all patients see an improvement in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, metabolic syndrome and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Even migraines can be improved along with stress incontinence and venous stasis disease.
In terms of fertility, female patients experience significant improvements. Almost all cases of PCOS are resolved due to bariatric surgery and obesity-related infertility is resolved in every case. Women with menstrual irregularities often see improvements in their cycle and, when pregnancy occurs following this procedure, there is a lower chance of pregnancy-induced hypertension and gestational diabetes developing.
The risk of developing obesity-related cancers is also significantly decreased, meaning that patients are less likely to suffer from breast cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer or endometrial cancer.
Am I A Good Candidate For A Mini Gastric Bypass?
Good candidates for a mini gastric bypass must have a BMI of over 30 and/or an obesity-related health condition. Some of the serious obesity-related medical issues which are taken into consideration for eligibility for a mini gastric bypass include:
- Hypertension
- High cholesterol
- Sleep apnoea
- Type II diabetes
If you cannot meet these conditions, a mini gastric bypass may not be right for you. However, there are other forms of bariatric surgery which may be suitable.
What Will Life Be Like After A Mini Gastric Bypass?
If you are an eligible candidate for a mini gastric bypass, it’s still important to be aware of what your life will be like following the procedure in order to determine whether it’s the right option for you.
Although this procedure leads to significant health improvements and weight loss, there are a number of things to bear in mind. Here are just a few:
- Significant dietary changes – it takes around six weeks after surgery to transition to your long-term diet. This will include a number of restrictions.
- Lifelong supplements and vitamins – a mini gastric bypass is known as a “malabsorptive” procedure. This means you’re at risk of developing malnutrition. You’ll be prescribed supplements and vitamins to avoid this which you’ll need to take for life.
- Regular exercise requirements – you’ll need to exercise for around 2 ½ hours each week, spreading that requirement over two to four days. This will ensure you maintain your weight loss.
If you can commit to these changes in your lifestyle, you will be a good candidate for this procedure.
Are There Complications Involved?
Any medical procedure comes with risks of complications. The good news, however, is that a mini gastric bypass comes with fewer risks than the standard Roux en Y procedure. You can also reduce your risks of any complications developing by choosing a skilled surgeon with plenty of previous experience in carrying out this procedure and by carefully following all the advice that you've been given before, after and during surgery.
Some of the complications which you can avoid include:
- Marginal ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding – you can avoid these by quitting smoking, eating your recommended diet and by avoiding the use of NSAids.
- Wound Infection – if you follow the instructions given to you by your surgeon after the procedure you should avoid the risk of infection. This is low anyway since the procedure is carried out via keyhole surgery.
- Gastrointestinal Leak – this complication can be repaired when caught at an early stage. If you experience symptoms such as a fast heartbeat, severe pain or fever, consult your physician.
- Bile Reflux Esophagitis – this is a very rare complication which produces symptoms that are similar to those produced by acid reflux. To resolve this problem a reversal of the procedure may be necessary.
- Hypoalbuminemia – this can be avoided by eating more protein.
- Iron deficiency anaemia – this can be avoided by taking iron supplements as directed.
- Diarrhoea – the key to resolving this problem is to determine which foods are triggering diarrhoea and excluding them from your diet.
- Dehydration – you can avoid this by consuming plenty of water following your surgery. Aim for two litres daily.
- Dyspepsia – this can be avoided by limiting your intake of greasy foods, changing the times at which you eat and by avoiding alcohol or certain medications.
- Intolerance to some foods, drinks and drug – consulting your doctor is important before you take any medications since they may cause damage to your new smaller stomach following your procedure. You should also limit your alcohol intake and quit smoking to avoid liver disease and ulcers.
- Nausea or vomiting – if you follow your recommended diet you should avoid these problems. Keeping records of everything you eat will enable you to spot which foods are causing your sickness.
- Sagging Skin – due to your rapid weight loss, you may experience some sagging of your skin. Exercising and avoiding smoking will help to reduce this problem however in some cases, surgery to remove the extra skin may be necessary.
- Gallstones – you may be prescribed supplements of bile salts following surgery or have your gallbladder removed while you are under anaesthetic to avoid this problem.
- Hair loss – many patients experience this due to nutritional deficiencies. However, it is usually only a temporary problem and can be prevented by taking magnesium, zinc, calcium and vitamin D supplements and consuming more protein.
- Kidney stones – these can be prevented by drinking plenty of water every day.
- Weight Regain – although it’s normal to regain a little weight over time, most patients won’t gain more than 4% of their weight loss after five years. If you adhere to your lifestyle changes and bariatric diet following your procedure, your stomach won’t have the chance to stretch. If you do experience weight gain, it’s important to contact your doctor straight away to address any bad exercise or diet habits you may have fallen into.
Should I Have A Mini Gastric Bypass Or Other Weight Loss Procedure?
If you’re wondering whether a mini gastric bypass would be a better option for you than a different bariatric procedure, here are some comparisons to consider.
The mini gastric bypass:
- Offers better or similar health improvements and weight loss in the long term as other procedures.
- Has a lower or similar risk of side effects and complications.
- Has a shorter or similar recovery time and hospital stay.
- Is a procedure which can easily be reversed.
- Isn’t performed as frequently as the Roux en Y bypass procedure.
- Leaves no external devices inside your body which could cause further complications in future.
When compared to the Roux en Y procedure, the mini gastric bypass:
- Is less invasive, less time-consuming and simpler
- Leaves more of your stomach attached to your oesophagus
- Bypasses more of your small intestine and doesn’t separate it at the top
- Allows some of the digestive juices to return to the stomach, increasing the risks of bile reflux gastritis (although 99% of patients won’t experience it)
- Is easily revised or reversed
- Results in a similar weight loss
- Has fewer risks of complications
The main downside associated with the mini gastric bypass is that it is less commonly carried out than the Roux en Y procedure. This means that surgeons are often less experienced.
Should I Have A Mini Gastric Bypass?
If you’re looking for a suitable weight loss procedure for you and are an eligible candidate, you might be wondering whether you should opt for a mini gastric bypass or one of the other procedures which may be available to you. Hopefully, the information that we’ve provided here will make it easier for you to make an informed decision.
If you would prefer to choose a procedure which can be revised or reversed, the mini gastric bypass is a good choice for you. If you find that you’re unhappy with your lifestyle after your operation, you can return to the way things were or opt for a different procedure. This is an advantage over procedures such as the duodenal switch, the gastric sleeve and the Roux en Y gastric bypass which cannot be reversed.
If you’re looking for a procedure with lower risks of unwanted side effects and complications, the mini gastric bypass could be right for you. Many of the associated risks can be reduced or prevented completely by following the advice given to you before, during and after your procedure by your surgeon. You’ll also experience the impressive weight loss and health benefits that you could expect from the other bariatric procedures available today.
With all of this in mind, you may well have decided that the mini gastric bypass is the ideal solution to your weight loss problems. It is certainly an option that is worth considering for any patient who is eligible for surgery and can be performed safely and skillfully at Weight Loss Riga.
If you’re considering getting weight loss surgery, please consider Weight Loss Riga. Weight Loss Riga promises to be there every step of the way on the path to getting your life back through weight loss surgery! Visit our homepage today in order to learn more about our facilities and to schedule a consultation with our patient coordinator, Mim Dickens.
