The Risks and Benefits Associated With Gastric Bypass Surgery

Although diet and exercise are undoubtedly the safest methods of weight loss available, and the preferred ones, they simply do not work for every person who tries them. As it becomes clear that obesity causes or exacerbates some of the most deadly of diseases, the importance of reducing body weight becomes clear. However, not everyone is helped by and traditional methods of weight loss. For varying reasons, other surgical methods may be required to help a person lose weight.

Surgical Alternatives for Weight Loss

There are several surgical alternatives for weight loss. These alternatives include gastric bypass surgery and gastric band surgery. However, studies have shown that gastric bands not have the same level of benefits as gastric bypass surgery, and in fact may have more complications involved.

Gastric band surgery involves the insertion of a band around a person's stomach, which divides the stomach into two parts. By placing this band around the stomach, a person feels full far more quickly and can hold less food in his or her stomach. This surgery may have varying degrees of success, although it may be considered less drastic than gastric bypass surgery.

Gastric bypass surgery involves the creation of a smaller stomach pouch which bypasses directly into the digestive system, skipping part of the small intestine. This surgery can be either laparoscopically or through a large incision the stomach. This type of surgery generally involves a four to six day stay in the hospital. It is not done in any except the most severe circumstances.

Candidates for Gastric Bypass Surgery

To be a candidate for gastric bypass certain a person must meet several qualifications. First of all, a person must have been obese for five or more years. This indicates that the person's weight cannot be lost easily. Second of all, a person must be between the ages of 18 and 65. Gastric bypass surgery cannot be performed on a person that is below or above this age group.

The third and fourth qualifications have more to do with a person’s mental situation, then his or her physical one. The third qualification is that the person must not be an alcoholic. Lastly, the person cannot have untreated depression or other psychiatric disorder.

What to Expect

A person undergoing gastric bypass surgery can expect to lose approximately one third of his or her excess weight within the first one to four years. Some of this weight loss may be regained if a person does not also attempt to change his or her habits after the surgery.

There are many risks a person must undertake if getting a gastric bypass surgery as well. First of all, as with any other surgery, there is a risk of infection. There's also a risk of ulcers or a hernia developing. Nausea and vomiting after eating can also be side effects of gastric bypass surgery. Any person considering this type of surgery should consult his or her doctor regarding these and other risks.