Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric bypass or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is a type of weight loss surgery that works by making the stomach smaller and the digestive system shorter. The gastric bypass divides the stomach into a small upper pouch and a larger remnant pouch and then arranges the small intestine to allow both pouches to stay connected to it accordingly.
The surgery makes the stomach smaller in size, which reduces the amount of food that the stomach can accept, thereby reducing the food intake. The food bypasses a section of the small intestine resulting in lesser calorie absorption by the body resulting in weight loss.
The Gastric Bypass Surgery is one of the final steps one can take to combat weight problems. Its results are immediate, long lasting and beneficial especially when accompanied with a balanced and sustained lifestyle changes

Advantages of Gastric Bypass

1. Stomach size is much smaller compared to other surgeries and lesser food intake leading to more drastic weight loss.
2. Ghrelin, a hormone, that is believed to be responsible for hunger is bypassed in the procedure.
3. Comorbid conditions are controlled or resolved to the highest extent- around 80 to 100% thus improving the quality of life.

Candidates
You are a good candidate for Gastric bypass surgery if you are between 18 to 60 years of age and have a Body Mass Index of over 40, or Body Mass Index between 35 and 40 with obesity-related medical complications, such as diabetes, heart disease, or sleep apnea.

Procedure
A small pouch is created in the anatomy of the stomach by incisions and staples. This pouch is made of the size of a golf ball. The remaining part is attached to small intestine.The reduced stomach or the pouch is attached to the lower part of the small intestine thus bypassing remaining stomach and the upper portion of small intestine. The small intestine of the upper part that is attached to the remaining stomach is again attached to the roux limb lower part so that digestive juices flow to the food in the intestine. The procedure is done under general anaesthesia and lasts for about 4 hours.

Recovery
You would need to stay at the hospital for 4-5 days following gastric bypass in India to see that you are recovering well. You will have some pain and discomfort after the procedure which can be managed with medications. You would be given a diet plan by your surgeon with instructions for sipping plain water, followed by other liquids. You need to follow the dietary plan prescribed by your surgeon and the dietician for your smooth recovery.

Time
You would need to stay at the hospital for about four to five days and a week in town after discharge from the hospital after gastric bypass surgery in India. A total of two weeks are required to avail gastric bypass surgery in India. You can resume normal day to day activities in around a week’s time. You would need to refrain from exercising and heavy physical work for six to eight weeks.