Gastric Bypass Stomach Surgery

What is gastric bypass surgery?

Many people mistakenly refer to all "weight loss" stomach surgery procedures as gastric bypass surgery. In fact, gastric bypass surgery refers to surgery that involves not just the stomach, but also the intestines.

Gastric bypass surgery involves re-routing the path that food takes through the digestive system. It "bypasses" a part of the small intestine. As a result, less food is absorbed into the body, cutting down on the amount of fat and the number of calories the body will store.

Gastric bypass surgery is done under general anesthesia and takes approximately one to four hours to complete. Hospital stays range from one to seven days, depending on the type of gastric bypass surgery that's done, and other health factors relevant to the patient.

There are currently two gastric bypass surgeries, the "Roux en Y" procedure and the biliopancreatic diversion bypass.

Roux en Y Gastric Bypass Surgery

The Roux-en-Y-gastric bypass can be done the traditional way, using a large incision in the abdomen. It can also be done laparoscopically, using several small incisions and a special tube equipped with a tiny camera. There less scarring when the procedure is done with a laparoscope, and the recovery time is shorter. But laparoscopic Roux en Y operations haven't been around as long as "open" surgeries, so long term results are unknown.

The Roux-en-Y bypass is being done more often because it's generally simpler than the biliopancreatic diversion bypass.

Biliopancreatic Diversion Bypass Surgery

The biliopancreatic diversion bypass is done less frequently than Roux en Y. It's more complicated because it's done through a large incision in the abdomen, leaves a permanent scar, and requires a longer recovery. There's also a higher risk of nutritional problems.

Gastric bypass surgery has helped hundreds of thousands of morbidly obese people lose weight and enjoy a better quality of life. They feel that they look better, they're able to get around more easily, and there's usually an overall improvement in their health.

Nonetheless, gastric bypass surgery is serious, and no one should take gastric bypass operation lightly.

Note: Lap-Band surgery is a form of weight loss surgery, but it doesn't involve an intestinal bypass element. Therefore it isn't really gastric bypass surgery, and is covered elsewhere on this website.