Gastric bypass surgery is a type of obesity surgery performed to lose weight.
During this surgery, the specialist causes changes in digestion and absorption of food, with a change in the digestive system (stomach and small intestine).
Mechanism of weight loss in gastric bypass:
- Limit the amount of food that the stomach stores
- Limiting the amount of calories and extra nutrients that your body absorbs
- Changing intestinal hormones that help you feel full for a long time. Helps suppress appetite and reverse the metabolic syndrome caused by obesity.
Classic gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y)
This surgery is considered the gold standard weight loss surgery. This method is one of the most common bariatric surgery methods in the world
During a classic bypass surgery, your surgeon removes a small bag from your stomach at the top that bypasses the larger part of the stomach and no longer digests or stores food, then the small intestine splits according to surgeon’s detection and the lower end of the small intestine connects to the new stomach.
At the end, the upper part of the small intestine is connected to the small intestine of the lower part to bypass the stomach acid and digestive enzymes of the stomach and the first part of the small intestine is mixed with food.
Benefits of gastric bypass
- Very short-term weight loss (18 months chance of losing weight)
- Long lasting results
- Effects on hormones and metabolic health often lead to improvement in adult diabetes even before any weight loss
- This surgery is performed as an elective surgery in patients with GERD
Research has shown that up to at least 20 years after the surgery, most patients maintain 50-80% of their weight loss.
Complications of the surgery
Like any other surgery, gastric bypass surgery has risks that it is important to know before surgery.
The rate of long-term complications of this surgery is more than the sleeve method, which can be treated with proper care and supervision by a doctor.
The patient needs long-term use of multivitamins
Gallstones: With weight loss, gallstone formation is likely to increase, which is minimized by taking a six-month course of Orsofar.
Dumping Syndrome: This syndrome is a group of signs and symptoms that usually occurs due to improper food selection. This syndrome is caused by the rapid passage of high-sugar foods into the small intestine, and its symptoms can include muscle cramps, nausea, dizziness, weakness, and fatigue. Get advice from a clinic nutritionist to prevent dumping.
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
Prevent hypoglycemia by eating five meals, especially protein foods
After surgery: Have a clear fluid diet for at least ten days after surgery and avoid solid foods
Slowly change your diet from liquids to purees, then after a month switch to harder foods.
In this case, your body is able to tolerate solid foods.
Your doctor may impose some dietary restrictions on you for the first few months after surgery
Three-month check-ups are on the doctor’s agenda to ensure health
Due to the relatively rapid weight loss in the first six months you may experience some changes.
Body pain
Start walking ten days after the surgery and strength training exercises one month after it to maintain muscle strength
Feeling tired
Due to relatively mal-absorption and weight loss
Eat five small meals, especially protein-rich foods
Feeling cold
Sometimes due to low blood sugar
Hair thinning, Hair loss with dry skin
Get enough fluids and protein
Do not have stress
You can use medicine to compensate or stop the hair loss process
Stomach bypass can lead to optimal and long-term weight loss.
The amount of weight loss depends on the type of surgery and lifestyle changes
In addition to weight loss, gastric bypass can have a beneficial effect on the side effects of obesity, including the following:
- Reflux or return of stomach acid
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Type 2 diabetes
- Stroke
- Infertility
- Fatty Liver
- Arthritis