Gastric Bypass Surgery - How It Succeeds

While surgery by itself does not guarantee long-term weight loss, it is a very powerful tool. The patient and the gastric bypass team working together enhance the success of the surgery. Through this working relationship, the patient experiences: significant weight loss and improved health status; develops a new relationship with food and an altered set of eating and activity behaviors; acquires a heightened sense of self-esteem and a sense of mastery over his/her own life. This surgery is most successful with mature individuals who understand that any change entails new learning and a process of adjustment.

Gastric Bypass Surgery - How It Works

Our surgeons use a gastric bypass technique called "Roux-en-Y" which promotes long-term weight loss. With Roux-en-Y, the stomach is partitioned with a stapler creating a small pouch. Stomach capacity is reduced to less than 10% of its original size, from the size of a football to about the size of an egg. This reduction produces a feeling of fullness with small amounts of food. A Y-shaped section of the small intestine is attached to the pouch so that food is diverted away from a portion of the small intestine. Most patients do not experience significant malabsorption of food. The Roux-en-Y should not be confused with other procedures that do not promote sufficient weight loss or cause extensive malabsorption.

To be considered for any gastric bypass surgery, the following criteria must be met:

• Age between 21 and 60
• Females at least 80 pounds overweight
• Males at least 100 pounds overweight
• A history of weight loss attempts