How Gastric Bypass Surgery is Saving Lives

Many people suffering from morbid obesity find it difficult to lose weight through traditional means of healthy eating and exercise. Gastric bypass surgery is saving lives with an effective method for weight loss and lifelong weight management. With the help of gastric bypass surgery, patients are able to lose weight and resolve health conditions associated with obesity. Learn more and discover if gastric bypass surgery is right for you.

The Benefits of Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric bypass surgery is the top weight loss surgery in the United States. It’s considered safer and more effective than all other weight loss surgeries. When accompanied by behavioral modification through diet and exercise, gastric bypass surgery can improve the quality of life.

Gastric bypass surgery is not just about losing weight. Many people who are severely overweight may suffer from high blood pressure and cholesterol, Type 2 Diabetes, heart disease, reflux disease and sleep apnea, among other health conditions. Gastric bypass surgery can be the road to a healthier way of life.

How Gastric Bypass Surgery Works

Gastric bypass surgery achieves weight loss by altering the digestive system. The procedure takes a small section of the stomach and attaches it to the lower intestine, bypassing the lower stomach and nutrient absorbing duodenum. The small pouch collects food, limiting the amount a patient can intake and digest.

Am I a Candidate for Gastric Bypass Surgery?

Gastric bypass surgery may be an option for patients who have not achieved weight loss results through traditional diet and exercise. Gastric bypass surgery is for people who are morbidly obese and suffer from weight related health conditions. General criterion for gastric bypass surgery is a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or greater. You may also qualify with a BMI of 35 or higher if you have weight related health conditions.

Is Gastric Bypass Surgery Right for Me?

An important thing to keep in mind is that the gastric bypass surgery procedure is not a substitute for traditional weight loss methods. If you elect to have gastric bypass surgery, you must follow specific diet and exercise directions assigned by the medical staff. Your success is largely dependent on your ability to develop healthy eating and exercise habits.

In order to qualify for gastric bypass surgery, you will need to complete a thorough screening process. An examination by a staff of medical professionals, including a physician, surgeon, psychologist and dietitian is necessary. The doctors will evaluate your medical history, current health risks and psychological profile to determine whether gastric bypass surgery is a suitable route to take.

What is the procedure like?

Gastric bypass surgery usually takes around four hours to complete. Because the procedure requires a general anesthesia, a hospital stay between three and five days is required. Medical professionals will also want to monitor the success of your surgery.

Following the procedure, you will follow a strict 12-week diet in order to slowly reintroduce solid foods. Adjusting to the new size of your stomach can prove somewhat difficult. You’ll need to eat very small meals throughout the day to avoid vomiting and chest pains. You can increase your food intake with time, but never to the level prior to gastric bypass surgery.

Considerable weight loss occurs in most patients who successfully follow a recommended diet and exercise program outlined by the doctor. The average loss of excess weight is 75 percent after one year. Continued efforts on your part contribute to even more weight loss.

Gastric Bypass surgery and Cosmetic Surgery

A number of options for cosmetic surgery are available to deal with excess skin after weight-loss surgery. Patients who have lost a substantial amount of weight may benefit from a body lift, which provides a comprehensive approach to body contouring for excess skin. A body lift can also be combined with cosmetic laser surgery to diminish scars and stretch marks. You can find out more about your options for cosmetic surgery after gastric bypass, as well as, cosmetic surgery financing through DocShop.com.

Understand the Risks of Gastric Bypass Surgery

As with all other surgeries, gastric bypass surgery comes with its own set of possible risks and complications. Some of the more serious risks include blood clots in the legs, stomach leakage, pneumonia and death. Other less severe complications may include vomiting and diarrhea, nausea, dehydration, gallstones, hernia and vitamin deficiency.