Key Points
- The most extensively studied long term bariatric procedure
- The most effective operation for weightloss with a balanced risk/benefit profile
- Helps to reduce the perception of hunger at baseline
- Reduces the effective stomach size from the size of a football to the size of a golfball and skips about 4 feet of small intestine to train you to eat less and absorb less fat
- Extremely effective in curing diabetes through hormonal mechanisms independant of weightloss, oftentimes immediately post-op
- The most effective treatment for heartburn/acid reflux
- On average, about 75% of excess weight can be achieved.
The Roux-en-y (pronounced “roo-on-why”) Gastric Bypass is arguably the time-tested gold standard procedure with the most attractive risk/benefit profile operation to cure obesity and even cure its related health complications even before significant weight loss is achieved.
The modern form of the gastric bypass consists of two major parts. One is the creation of a small gastric pouch about the size of a golfball and the other is a re-routing of the small intestine so that the first 4 feet of small intestine is skipped or bypassed. The remaining 15 feet of small intestine is left undisturbed. This operation combines a restrictive operation which makes you eat less with a fat and bile malabsorptive operation which decreases the amount of fat the body is able to absorb without causing diarrhea. There is plenty of small intestine left and this operation is considered “malabsorptive” because most vitamins get absorbed in the first portion of the small intestine. This is why it is very important for a life long commitment to taking vitamins because some vitamin deficiencies may cause permanent irreversible damage. Generally, what’s necessary is a multivitamin, calcium + vitamin D.
Also by skipping or bypassing the first 4 feet of small intestine, the body becomes more sensitive to insulin and helps to control blood sugars in most diabetics even before any weight has been lost at all. In many instances, blood sugars are much easier to control even immediately after gastric bypass surgery. In addition to effective diabetes control, the roux-en-y gastric bypass is arguably the best operation for patients with acid reflux. Mechanically, the acid stream is diverted so that the acid secreting part of the stomach is separated so that there can no longer be backsplash of acid on the esophagus.
The gastric bypass is arguably the gold standard operation for long lasting weight loss because of its multiple mechanisms and balanced risks/benefit profile. This operation takes between 2-3 hours even with a laparoscopic approach. Dr. Lee custom tailors the pouch with a stapler and handsews so that the new stomach pouch is the size of a thumb and the connection is about the size of a penny. With a realistic diet and exercise plan, a patient can reasonably expect to lose about 75% of their excess weight.
Contact Lee Bariatrics today to learn more about this procedure.