Morbid obesity is one reason for gastric bypass surgery. People who are unable to lose weight any other way can suffer from health problems because of their weight, and surgery might be their only option for the chance at a normal life.
To be considered for gastric bypass, you must have a body mass index (BMI) higher than 35 with another high-risk health issue such as high blood pressure or a BMI of 40 or more otherwise. Once surgery has been performed, healthy dietary changes and the inclusion of exercise will maintain the weight loss achieved through the surgical procedure.
There are different types of gastric bypass surgery, but the preferred method is still Roux-en-Y. The Roux-en-Y procedure is when the stomach is stapled, leaving only a small pouch remaining with a channel for the food to make its way to the small intestine. The result of this surgery is the early feeling of fullness after eating only a small amount.
Lap-Band adjustable gastric banding is an alternative procedure where an inflatable band is used to separate the stomach into parts. The band is left in place to restrict the amount of food that can be ingested. The lap-band procedure has a lower risk factor than other surgical procedures, but it also has a lower rate of weight loss.
There are risks to gastric bypass surgery such as gallstones, bleeding ulcers, kidney stones or the development of new intolerances to specific foods. Blood clots can be a likely occurrence in the legs of overweight patients. Blood clots are dangerous because they can travel to the lungs and cause death. A condition known as “dumping” is a concern resulting from gastric bypass where the stomach contents are passed too quickly and the patient develops flu-like symptoms. As with any surgical procedure, the risk of death is present, so discuss this risk with your doctor.
To be considered for gastric bypass, you must have a body mass index (BMI) higher than 35 with another high-risk health issue such as high blood pressure or a BMI of 40 or more otherwise. Once surgery has been performed, healthy dietary changes and the inclusion of exercise will maintain the weight loss achieved through the surgical procedure.
There are different types of gastric bypass surgery, but the preferred method is still Roux-en-Y. The Roux-en-Y procedure is when the stomach is stapled, leaving only a small pouch remaining with a channel for the food to make its way to the small intestine. The result of this surgery is the early feeling of fullness after eating only a small amount.
Lap-Band adjustable gastric banding is an alternative procedure where an inflatable band is used to separate the stomach into parts. The band is left in place to restrict the amount of food that can be ingested. The lap-band procedure has a lower risk factor than other surgical procedures, but it also has a lower rate of weight loss.
There are risks to gastric bypass surgery such as gallstones, bleeding ulcers, kidney stones or the development of new intolerances to specific foods. Blood clots can be a likely occurrence in the legs of overweight patients. Blood clots are dangerous because they can travel to the lungs and cause death. A condition known as “dumping” is a concern resulting from gastric bypass where the stomach contents are passed too quickly and the patient develops flu-like symptoms. As with any surgical procedure, the risk of death is present, so discuss this risk with your doctor.