Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass surgery also known as “Roux-en-Y” gastric bypass is a weight-loss surgery. It is a surgical procedure that helps you lose weight by changing how your stomach and small intestine handle the food you eat.
In a gastric bypass , a surgeon creates a small pouch at the top of the stomach. This pouch becomes the new stomach. Surgeons then connect the pouch to the middle part of the small intestine, bypassing the upper part of the small intestine.
After the surgery, the stomach pouch retains a lot less food compared to a normal-sized stomach. As a result, you will eat less and still feel fuller. You will feel less hunger pangs. And fewer calories and nutrients are absorbed because the small intestine is shorter.
Gastric Bypass Procedure
Surgery
- Your surgeon will use staples to divide your stomach into a small upper section and a larger bottom section and make the large surgical cut to open up your belly. The top part of your stomach (called the pouch) is where the food you eat will go. The pouch is about the size of a walnut. It holds only about 1 ounce of food. Because of this you will eat less and lose weight.
- Then your surgeon will connect a small part of your small intestine to a small hole in your pouch. The surgeon uses the tiny camera for this surgery, called a laparoscope. The food you eat will now travel from the pouch into this new opening into your small intestine. Due to this, your body will absorb fewer calories.
After Surgery
Immediately after gastric bypass surgery, you can have liquids but no solid food as your stomach and intestines begin to heal. You’ll then follow a special diet plan that changes slowly from liquids to pureed foods. After that, you can eat soft foods, then move on to firmer foods as your body is able to tolerate them.
You may have many restrictions or limits on how much and what you can eat and drink. Your doctor will recommend you take vitamin and mineral supplements after surgery, including a multivitamin with iron, calcium and vitamin B-12.
Why it's done
Gastric bypass is done to help you lose excess weight and reduce your risk of potentially life-threatening weight-related health problems, including:
- Stroke
- Infertility
- Heart disease
- High cholesterol
- Type 2 diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Gastric bypass is typically done only after you’ve tried to lose weight by improving your diet and exercise habits.
Who it's for
Gastric Bypass & other weight-loss surgeries may option for you if
- your body mass index (BMI) is 40 or higher (extreme obesity).
- you have a serious weight-related health problem, diabetes, high blood pressure and severe sleep apnea.
Gastric bypass isn’t for everyone who is severely overweight. A person needs to meet certain medical guidelines to qualify for weight-loss surgery.
You must also be willing to make permanent changes to lead a healthier lifestyle. You require to participate in long-term follow-up plans that include monitoring your nutrition, your lifestyle and behavior, and your medical conditions.
Gastric Bypass Success Stories & Reviews
Gastric Bypass Surgery Cost
India is the most preferable destination for patients who are looking for low cost obesity surgery. The cost of the obesity surgery in India is typically a fraction of the cost for the same procedure and care in the US and other developed countries. The cost can vary depending on type of surgery and other medical conditions of a patient.
USA $23,000
UK $18,500
India $5,000
Thailand $7,500
Singapore $9,000
Malasiya $8,200
Costa Rica $11,000
Mexico $14,000
The cost of the Gastric Bypass surgery in India is typically a fraction of the cost for the same procedure and care in the US and other developed countries. However, low costs does not mean that the hospitals compromise with the quality of medical treatment.
Gastric Bypass Surgery in India is a great option for a medical tourist from abroad. The hospitals for gastric bypass in India offer attractive packages to medical tourists, which enables them to save thousands of dollars. These packages include gastric sleeve cost, and all the costs that a foreign medical traveller would otherwise incur including boarding, hotel booking, travelling accommodation and food costs.
Advantages of the Gastric Bypass
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It is particularly effective for patients with a larger BMI as the procedure has more predictable weight loss outcomes, significantly (60 to 80 percent excess weight loss).
- Hormonal changes resulting from surgery mean most patients have an almost immediate reduction in their need for diabetic medication, and some can completely stop diabetic medication altogether.
- In addition to weight loss, gastric Bypass tends to have the strongest effect on high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other obesity-related health issues.
- It is also effective for those people who tend towards high sugar or high-fat foods. Dumping syndrome is directly linked to a high sugar, high fat intake. Symptoms of dumping are unpleasant and therefore discourage the intake of high calorie, sweet foods.
Advantages of laparoscopy over open surgery include:
- Have less pain
- This surgery takes about 2 to 4 hours.
- Shorter hospital stays and quicker recovery.
- Smaller scars and a lower risk of getting a hernia or infection.
Gastric Bypass FAQs
Dietetic Requirements of Gastric Bypass
- A healthy, balanced eating plan is recommended with a focus on portion control
- There is a greater risk of developing nutritional deficiencies because of lesser quantity of food that can be eaten. Most commonly deficiencies occur in Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, iron, folate, calcium, and zinc. Hence these nutrients need to be closely monitored with regular blood tests
- Intolerance of high sugar foods can occur due to the changes in gut anatomy with this operation. ‘Dumping syndrome’ can result, causing dizziness, sweating, nausea, and diarrhoea. To prevent this, one should avoid high sugar foods and alcohol.
- At least 6-12 monthly review of nutritional adequacy (including annual blood tests) to ensure maintenance of adequate nutritional health.