Gastric Bypass Surgery
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RNY) is by far the most common of the of gastric bypass weight loss operations that are performed in the world today.
Gastric By Pass - How It Works
It is usual that the stomach of a person who is obese is too large, therefore they require too much food before they feel full and stop eating. With the RNY gastric bypass a small stomach pouch is created which reduces the amount of food you need to eat before you are full.
Food leaves this new stomach pouch through a newly created opening and bypasses the rest of the stomach and much of the small intestine. As a result, fewer calories are absorbed as the food passes through your body.
If you were to eat a large amount of sugar, the body would respond by over producing insulin which makes you feel lightheaded and queasy. This acts as a deterrent from over eating the wrong types of food. This is commonly referred to as the dumping syndrome.
How much weight will you lose after a gastric bypass?
Research has shown that on average, a patient will lose between 66% and 75% of their excess weight in the two years after gastric bypass surgery. You will, of course start to feel the benefits long before this, especially if you also have any co-morbidity related problems such as diabetes, heart disease or high blood pressure. You will also have a much greater capacity for physical exercise as well as more self confidence.
The gastric bypass operation
Most surgeons do this operation by laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery in the UK.
You will be admitted to hospital either the night before, or the morning of your surgery and will usually stay in hospital 4-5 nights. The surgery can be performed laparoscopically through a series of small incisions across your upper abdomen. Your surgeon will use laparoscopic instruments and be guided by a special telescope with a camera relaying the images to a monitor in theatre.
Some people who are very obese, or who have had previous abdominal surgery may not be able to have this operation done laparoscopically and it will be done via a normal 'open' incision in these circumstances. If this happens, you will take a little longer to recover from the bigger incision, but it does not adversely affect your subsequent weight loss progress. Some surgeons believe that the open surgery method is more beneficial as it takes less time to perform under general anaesthetic and there is arguably less likelihood of leaks when the surgeon can see his work directly rather than via a TV monitor. The downside of open surgery as opposed to laparoscopic is that you will have a larger scar.
Risks and Side Effects
Fortunately, complications are rare but it is important that you fully explore the potential problems before you decide to proceed with the surgery. This is why it is vital that your consultation is with the surgeon who will perform the operation and not just a patient advisor.
Firstly, being obese makes any surgery more risky. There is a higher risk with the general anaesthetic, and any obesity related diseases that you may already have can add further complications.
Statistics show that the death rate associated with the gastric band is about 1 in 100 operations though this does include procedures carried out abroad or by less qualified and experienced surgeons than you will find at The Landauer Group. The most common cause of death is the development of a blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism) though this is far less likely in a patient with a body mass index of 55 or under. Rarely patients may develop other complications at the time of operation, for instance an infection in the lungs or stomach or at the site where the reservoir is anchored under the skin, which may delay recovery.
The greatest risk after a RNY gastric bypass operation is developing a leak in the join from the stomach to the small intestine. If this occurs, a second operation would be required immediately. Very rarely a patient may develop other complications at the time of the operation such as an infection in the stomach, in your lungs or in one of the wounds, which may delay your recovery.
UK Plastic Surgery Hospitals
For more information or to book a consultation with a gastric bypass surgeon call now on 01254 832148. Lines open 9am - 9.30pm 7 days a week.
Your gastric bypass surgery consultation can normally take place within 2 weeks with the possibility of the gastric bypass surgery following about 2 weeks later.
Contact us today to arrange a gastric bypass consultation.
Further Reading on Gastric Bypass Surgery
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