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Weight loss surgery, also called bariatric or metabolic surgery, can sometimes be a good choice for people who are overweight and have obesity problems. With this surgery, obese people experience significant weight loss. These weight losses can help improve obesity-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure.
Gastric Bypass is a severe and major surgery. For this reason, it is often used by people who cannot lose weight with a healthy diet and exercise. There are multiple types of weight loss surgeries. The most common types are:
• Gastric Band: A band is placed around the stomach. Thanks to this band, you don't need to eat a lot to feel full.
• Gastric Bypass: The small pouch formed in the upper part of the stomach is joined to the small intestine so that the person feels more full and takes fewer calories.
• Gastric Sleeve Surgery: In this surgery, a part of the stomach is removed, and the person cannot eat as much as they used to and feels full faster.
Within a few years after all weight loss surgeries, a person experiences significant weight loss. Each type of surgery has its advantages and disadvantages. If you want to benefit from weight loss surgery, your bariatric surgeon can decide which treatment is most appropriate.
What is a gastric bypass surgery?
In weight loss surgery, gastric bypass surgery is the type in which the stomach is divided into a small upper pouch and a larger lower pouch. Then the small intestine is arranged to connect to both pouches. Surgical staples are used to create these small pouches. Gastric Bypass is one of the most preferred types of bariatric surgery.
If the patient has done diet and exercise and this method has not worked for weight loss or has significant health problems due to excess weight, gastric bypass surgery can be performed.
Thanks to gastric bypass surgery, people both lose their excess weight and heal their diseases caused by excess weight. With this surgery, the patient's stomach is reduced, and a part of the intestines is bypassed. This changes the patient's signals between the gut and the brain. The patient regulates their appetite, feels full faster, and controls their weight. Calorie intake decreases.
After the Roux-en-Y (roo-en-wy) gastric bypass, or gastric Bypass, the foods consumed will pass to the small upper sac of the stomach and then directly to the small intestine. Thus, the food will skip most of the patient's stomach and the first part of the small intestine.
Who can have gastric bypass surgery?
Generally, people prefer gastric bypass and other weight loss surgeries in the situations listed below. These situations are:
• If the person has a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher.
• If you have a body mass index (BMI) of 35-39.9 and a health condition related to excess weight, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or a severe sleep apnea problem.
• In some cases, if you have a body mass index (BMI) of 30-34 and have serious health problems associated with being overweight.
• If the person's general health condition is suitable for anesthesia and surgery.
• If the patient is determined to make long-term follow-up appointments after gastric bypass surgery and to make significant changes in lifestyle and dietary habits.
• If the person is over 18 (in exceptional cases, it can be done for children), you may be eligible for certain weight loss surgeries.
Gastric bypass surgery is not suitable for everyone who is overweight. Whether you are ideal for this surgery will be decided by your surgeon after the control and some tests.
To lead a healthy life after surgery, you must be ready for permanent changes. For this reason, you will be subject to a long-term follow-up program after the surgery. Your follow-up program focuses on your diet, lifestyle, behavior, and general health.
Why is the Gastric Bypass done?
Gastric Bypass, one of the obesity surgery treatments, is performed to help overweight people lose weight and to help people heal their life-threatening diseases caused by excess weight. Some of the obesity-related diseases are:
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (backflow of stomach acid, pepsin, pancreatic enzymes, and bile into the esophagus)
• Heart diseases
• Disorders with high blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Obstructive sleep apnea problem
• Type 2 diabetes
• Stroke (paralysis)
• Cancer diseases
• Infertility (infertility)
Gastric Bypass is a method people usually resort to after trying to lose weight by dieting and exercising.
How to prepare for Gastric Bypass Surgery?
There are several procedures that the patient should do before gastric bypass surgery. Your surgeon may be asked to do the following:
• Avoiding physical activities in the weeks before surgery
• Quitting smoking at least six weeks before the surgical operation (smoking increases the risk of infection)
• Fulfilling your doctor's recommendations about eating and drinking before the procedure (with a low-fat and low-carb diet, the surgeon can easily access the stomach)
• Not eating for about six hours before the surgery
• Not drinking water approximately two hours before the operation.
• Compliance with the instructions on the drugs used or to be used.
• Wearing compression stockings and injecting anticoagulants to prevent blood clot formation in the leg veins, also called deep vein thrombosis.
Before gastric bypass surgery, your surgeon will inform you about potential situations that may be encountered both preoperatively and during the operation. Do not hesitate to ask your surgeon about the problems that bother you and cause you anxiety. Your consent will be sought before the operation.
What are the results of Gastric Bypass surgery?
People who have gastric bypass surgery will experience long-term weight loss. The amount of weight the person will lose will vary depending on the type of surgery and how much you can change your lifestyle. Patients with gastric bypass surgery can lose an average of 70% of their excess weight within two years and, in some cases, more than 70%.
In addition to losing weight, gastric bypass surgery can also solve diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
What should be the care after gastric bypass surgery?
After undergoing gastric bypass surgery, it's important to follow a strict care routine to ensure a successful recovery and to maintain the health benefits of the procedure. Here are some important post-operative care instructions:
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Follow a strict diet: The surgeon will prescribe a specific diet plan that you should follow after the surgery. The diet will usually start with clear liquids and then progress to pureed and soft foods before returning to solid foods. It's important to follow this diet closely to avoid complications and to ensure that your body is receiving the nutrients it needs.
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Avoid certain foods: After gastric bypass surgery, you should avoid foods that are high in sugar and fat, as well as carbonated beverages, alcohol, and caffeine. These foods and drinks can cause discomfort, nausea, and even dumping syndrome, a condition in which food moves too quickly through the stomach and into the small intestine.
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Take supplements: Following the surgery, you may be required to take vitamin and mineral supplements to ensure that your body is receiving the necessary nutrients. Your surgeon will prescribe the appropriate supplements, and it's important to take them as directed.
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Engage in physical activity: Exercise is an important part of the recovery process after gastric bypass surgery. Your surgeon will recommend a specific exercise plan that you should follow to aid in weight loss and maintain muscle mass.
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Attend follow-up appointments: It's important to attend all follow-up appointments with your surgeon to monitor your progress and address any concerns or complications that may arise.
Overall, following a healthy lifestyle that includes a balanced diet, regular exercise, and proper self-care can help ensure a successful recovery and a healthier future after gastric bypass surgery.
