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Gastric Bypass Procedure

Facts about Gastric Bypass Procedure and Recovery

The gastric bypass procedure, also known as bariatric surgery or weight loss surgery, reduces the size of the stomach and allows food to "bypass" part of the small intestine. It is a complex surgery to help obese individuals lose weight by helping them:

• Reduce the amount of food they can consume
• Feel satiated more quickly
• Absorb fewer calories

Performed under general anesthesia, gastric bypass procedure takes about one to four hours in surgery, followed by a hospital stay of up to one week.

Gastric bypass procedure is performed using one of the following techniques:

• Roux-en-Y-gastric bypass (traditional and laparoscopic)
• Biliopancreatic diversion bypass

(Another form of weight loss surgery that does not involve a bypass is lap band treatment.)

Roux-en-Y-gastric Bypass Procedure (traditional and laparoscopic)

The Roux-en-Y bypass is the most common type of gastric bypass procedure. This procedure does not remove portions of the stomach. The traditional Roux-en-Y-gastric bypass procedure is performed through open surgery with one long incision or can be performed laparoscopically using multiple smaller incisions. Laparoscopic surgery will produce less scarring and the overall gastric bypass recovery time is less.

Roux-en-Y bypass creates a smaller stomach using a plastic band or surgical staples. The reduced-sized stomach is then connected to the mid-portion of the small intestine, bypassing the rest of the stomach and the upper part of the small intestine.

Biliopancreatic Diversion Gastric Bypass Procedure

The biliopancreatic diversion bypass is more complex than the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure. It is performed through open surgery with one long incision, leaving a permanent scar. This gastric bypass procedure removes portions of the stomach to create a smaller stomach pouch. The middle part of the small intestine is attached to the smaller stomach pouch. This procedure is not widely used, because there is more risk of nutritional deficiencies.

Gastric Bypass Recovery

The gastric bypass recovery process can take time. After surgery, patients may spend time ranging from two days to a week in the hospital depending on the type of gastric bypass procedure that was performed. For a few days immediately following the procedure, patients often feel sore and the abdomen will be swollen. Generally speaking, most people require 2-5 weeks of recovery time before resuming normal activities. Aftercare treatments typically include a dietary plan, behavioral-modification therapy, regular exercise, and nutritional supplements.