Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

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Improve weight loss with the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass procedure.

As one of the most common types of gastric bypass surgeries in the United States, the purpose of the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is to reduce the size of the stomach to a small pouch. Once the stomach is small in size, patients may be able to enjoy small meals without worrying as much about weight gain.

  • The exact results depend on each patient
  • Results are influenced by how closely the doctor’s instructions are followed post-surgery

In general, the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is appropriate for people who are extremely obese. A doctor may recommend this effective weight loss procedure for those who have a body mass index of 40 or more or for people with a body mass index and a serious medical condition like sleep apnea, high blood pressure, severe arthritis, heart disease, and diabetes. To find out more about whether you would be a good candidate for this specific type of weight loss surgery, your doctor will evaluate your health, medical history, and more.

In addition, men who are 100 pounds overweight and females who are 80 pounds overweight may also be considered, especially if they have trouble losing weight through regular exercise, diet, and other lifestyle changes. According to research, some patients can lose roughly half of their excess weight after the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure. The patients who experience the most success are those who adhere to the suggested eating plan, attend appointments with the medical team, and engage in physical activity.

To find out if the procedure is good for you, contact our office today to schedule a consultation and learn more.

Benefits

Roux-en-Y-Gastric-Bypass-The-Lap-Band-Center-2As compared to other weight loss surgeries, the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass usually results in smaller scars and less pain when performed laparoscopically. Patients who undergo this type of weight loss procedure are also less likely to develop an infection, depression, or a hernia due to the minimally invasive method.

One of the most noted advantages of the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is that the procedure promotes quick recovery and requires minimal hospitalization. In fact, most people experience rapid weight loss during the first year of the procedure as long as they follow their doctor’s provided eating plan.

This procedure has been shown to lengthen life expectancy, increase fullness, reduce hunger cravings, and support positive effects on insulin resistance in some patients.

Preparation

Roux-en-Y-Gastric-Bypass-The-Lap-Band-Center-3Most highly qualified medical facilities will develop an extensive educational and preparatory program before surgery. The program consists of tests for nutritional deficiencies to ensure that there will not be any conditions that might result in complications during the operation. The doctor may also refer patients to other health care providers such as psychologists and dietitians for additional testing.

Some prescription and over-the-counter medicine should not be taken before surgery, so a doctor may ask patients to discontinue certain medications. Since smoking usually leads to surgical complications, patients should also stop this habit. For those who need help quitting, an experienced doctor or nurse may be able to provide patients with some key tips.

Another component of the educational and preparatory program is to inform the doctor of any medication allergies that are related to anesthesia. The last step is to ensure that Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is covered by a patient’s health care insurance provider.

Your doctor will provide you with specific instructions to prepare for your procedure. It is very important to follow these instructions carefully in order to have the safest possible procedure.

Procedure

Roux-en-Y-Gastric-Bypass-The-Lap-Band-Center-4In order to promote reduced pain during the procedure, the doctor will administer general anesthesia. Afterwards, the surgeon will cut only a small part of the stomach to create a new stomach pouch. The smaller stomach will be connected to the middle portion of the small intestine in order to bypass the remaining stomach and the upper sector of the small intestine. When the procedure is performed laparoscopically, the surgeon will make many small incisions with the use of small instruments and a camera. Throughout the procedure, the doctors will use routine monitoring equipment to detect potential problems. The procedure itself may take several hours to perform.

Recovery

Roux-en-Y-Gastric-Bypass-The-Lap-Band-Center-5After the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, most patients are hospitalized for two to four days. During the first three to six weeks of recovery, the diet should consist of only liquids and puree foods. Once a patient is healing smoothly, the doctor will recommend soft and regular food about a little over a month following the surgery. Because the stomach is still adjusting to the surgery, daily meals and snacks should be consumed slowly.

Patients will need to continue implementing lifelong changes into their diet. These positive changes may include taking the proper medication, such as vitamin and mineral supplements. Patients should also consider consuming healthy amounts of protein and limiting their intake of sweet and fatty foods. Since the pouch can hold a few ounces of substances at a time, patients can consume small amounts of healthy food. Your doctor can provide you with the tips that you need to stick to your new nutritional diet.

In rare cases, a patient may require a catheter to drain excess fluid from the abdomen. The site of the catheter and the wound should be cleaned often during recovery. The doctor will also advise the patient about proper protocol to changing the dressing on the incision.

Depending on the type of surgery that was performed, patients may need to monitor their activity following the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. For those who undergo open surgery, they may need to avoid lifting or strenuous exercise during recovery so that the belly can heal properly. As a result, most patients can return to work and normal activities in four to six weeks. Patients who undergo a laparoscopic procedure are most likely to experience a fast recovery. Your doctor can tell you what to expect from the procedure and provide you with the steps that you need to successfully recover.

To learn more about the Roux-en-Y procedure or other types of weight loss procedures, contact our office today.