How does gastric bypass surgery help with weight loss?
Gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y) is an approach to weight loss surgery that offers the benefits of using a combination of both main bariatric treatment methods, namely restriction, and malabsorption, to achieve weight loss.
Restriction works by limiting the quantity of food that fits into your stomach, so you can’t overeat, while malabsorption inhibits your body’s ability to absorb calories from the food you eat.
Gastric bypass surgery permanently restructures your stomach and small intestine, and it offers a long-term solution to maintaining a healthy weight.
Who would benefit from gastric bypass surgery?
Gastric bypass procedures are generally recommended for people with a BMI (body mass index) between 40 and 50. Patients with a BMI over 40 are clinically obese but may have been unable to lose weight using other means, which makes them good candidates for gastric bypass surgery.
This level of obesity puts a severe strain on the body, causing serious health conditions, but gastric bypass surgery provides an effective way for people to regain their health and mobility.
What happens during a gastric bypass operation?
Dr. Reilly is committed to using minimally invasive procedures, ensuring patients have faster recovery times and less trauma. He uses a laparoscopic technique to perform the surgery through a small incision, viewing the site of the operation using a miniature camera.
Dr. Reilly disconnects a large section of your stomach, forming a smaller pouch from the remainder, and re-routes part of the small intestine so it connects to the newly reduced stomach. Laparoscopic surgeries usually require a shorter stay in the hospital than more invasive techniques, so you could be home within a couple of days of the operation.
When you leave the hospital, you get instructions for food and water intake and information on caring for the surgery site. You’ll attend regular follow-up appointments to monitor your progress and answer any questions you might have.
Is it possible to gain weight after the surgery?
Gastric bypass surgery is an effective long-term approach to achieving weight loss, but it isn’t a cure. You need to follow a healthy eating plan and take regular exercise once you’ve recovered from the surgery, which could mean making significant changes to your lifestyle.
If you stick with the plan, you should lose half of your excess fat after about a year, or possibly more; if you don’t stick to the plan, you could still end up eating too many calories and start to regain weight.
To find out more about gastric bypass surgery and whether it could help you, call OakBend Medical Group today, or book an appointment to meet with Dr. Reilly using the online booking facility.
