Is it Right For You?

A gastric bypass weight loss surgery is a surgical method to reduce the stomach's size by the removal of part or all of its tissue. The most common gastric bypass weight loss, known as a Roux en-Y surgery, results in a weight loss of ten to twelve percent. The average gastric bypass weight loss after the surgery is approximately 60 percent over a year. In some cases an entire stomach can be removed to allow for more weight loss.

This surgery is similar to having a band placed around your stomach to limit its size. It is also like having your stomach tightened by a balloon or a tube. When you are having this surgery, your surgeon will place stents inside the stomach to make it appear smaller. A small stent is inserted into the abdomen through an incision in the upper part of the abdomen.

During your first month on a gastric bypass, you will experience nausea and vomiting as your body begins to adjust to not having the food that it needs. You should be able to begin to begin to lose weight within three months from the time of surgery. At three months from the first week of your surgical procedure, most people are able to return to their regular eating routines. If you experience complications while on this diet or if your doctor recommends that you stop eating for a certain amount of time, contact your surgeon immediately and he or she will provide additional information.

Before having this surgery, it is important to talk to your surgeon about possible side effects that you may experience from the gastric bypass surgery and the medications you will be taking after the surgery. Because this surgery alters your stomach size, it may take some time to adjust to your new size. Your surgeon will discuss these things with you and help you with any concerns or questions you might have.

After three months from the day of surgery, most people are able to return to their normal eating patterns and should not experience complications during this time. It is important to note that gastric bypass surgery is only an option for people who are extremely obese and do not have other options for serious weight loss. Even if you are considered a healthy weight, if you are overweight you probably have some other medical condition or issue that requires treatment. Speak with your physician and a certified nutritionist to discuss other weight loss options available to you and other problems you may have before undergoing this or any other procedure.

About six weeks after your surgery, your physician will start you on a dietary trial in order to determine what foods and vitamins you need to start eating in order to achieve your goal of reaching your goal weight. During this phase, you are also encouraged to increase your physical activity. Total weight loss takes about six months to one year to reach. Most bariatric surgeons will encourage you to keep up with your healthy eating regimen for the first one to two years before you undergo the next step of removing the excess weight.

In terms of results, about six to eight pounds of excess body weight will be removed per year on average. It is important to note that gastric bypass surgeries are not intended for long term use. If you intend to use them after that time frame, you should expect that the results will not be permanent and that the body weight you lose will come back again. Bariatric surgeons say that after many years the body will catch up and that the new stomach size will be much smaller. It is not uncommon for many people to regain the excess weight they initially lost during this time period.

Gastric Bypass weight loss does not have the same effects on heart health as other weight loss methods. Because the stomach is left open, the risk of a blood clot forming in the stomach is also high. Although there is less food moving through when food is ingested, the stomach is still working, which can lead to problems with overworked cardiovascular tissue. Gastric Bypass weight loss can cause nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, heartburn, bloating, fatigue, thinning hair and nails, headaches, and fatigue. These side effects can be more serious than most people anticipate, and you should always consult your doctor when considering any invasive procedure.