About Gastric Bypass Surgery
The Bariatric Surgery Program
About Gastric Bypass Surgery
Weight loss surgery can be categorized in one of two ways:
- Restrictive: food is restricted but digestion and absorption remain normal
- Malabsorptive: the size of the stomach is reduced, and digestion is altered
Gastric bypass is a combined restrictive and malabsorptive procedure that actually reduces the size of your stomach.
Surgical staples are used to create a small stomach pouch which restricts the amount of food you can eat at one time.
The small intestine is then attached to this newly created stomach pouch, allowing food to bypass the large part of the stomach, eliminating food absorption in the larger part of the stomach.
Food is now rerouted, or bypasses the large part of the stomach.
Advantages of Gastric Bypass
Because gastric bypass is often a minimally invasive operation, there are several advantages:
- Most patients lose 50 percent of their body weight, food intake is greatly controlled
- Recovery time is moderate, hospitalization is minimal
- Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure will be improved
- Relief of acid reflux
- Improved mobility
Risks of Gastric Bypass
- Separation of tissue that was stapled or stitched together
- Leaks from staples
- Ulcers
- Vomiting if food is not chewed properly
- Increased gas
- Risks inherent with any surgery
Learn More
If you think gastric bypass is right for you, call 1-888-MD-RWJUH to sign up for one of our free seminars or request an individual consultation.
Portions of above content courtesy of Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
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