A Roux-en-Y procedure, or gastric bypass surgery, helps reduce the size of your stomach and changes the way food passes through your digestive system. To do this, it creates a small pouch with a short outlet from your stomach to the rest of your intestines.
The outlet causes you to feel full quickly, so you’ll be less likely to overeat and cause weight gain. You may need this surgery if you have been unable to lose weight with lifestyle changes or over-the-counter medications like Adipex P without exercise.
The Anatomy
The Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass procedure creates an A shape by making a small stomach pouch, connecting it to a section of the small intestine, and then attaching a larger pouch made from most of your stomach. This causes food to bypass part of your stomach and upper portion of your small intestine so that you absorb fewer calories and nutrients from each meal. Typically, people who undergo gastric bypass lose about 50% more weight than those who only go on a diet. But surgery comes with risks such as infection, blood clots, leaky gut syndrome (where bacteria pass through an intestinal wall), and nutrient deficiencies. Talk to your doctor about whether surgery is right for you.
The Steps of the Procedure
The steps of a Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass are as follows: Patients first receive an evaluation from their doctor to determine if they’re a candidate for surgery and receive counseling about lifestyle changes. After surgery, patients should expect to spend several days in a hospital to recover but can return home soon after. A typical recovery time is 4–6 weeks before full activity resumes.
Patients will be required to follow up with doctors regularly to monitor progress and ensure that any health issues are addressed. During these visits, patients will be taught how to manage their diet following surgery and learn how to avoid future weight gain by making healthy choices. Finally, patients will also have regular exercise sessions with physical therapists during their recovery period. Once fully recovered, most people who have undergone a Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass report that they feel more energetic than ever before—even though they may not be able to eat large portions at once anymore!
Before Your Surgery
The first thing you’ll have to do before undergoing a weight loss surgery like gastric bypass or roux-en-y gastric bypass is schedule your preoperative appointment. Here, your surgeon will go over important aspects of your upcoming surgery, such as risks and costs. You’ll also undergo several tests, such as blood work and chest X-rays, to make sure that you are in good health and free from any chronic illnesses.
During your preoperative appointment, it’s also a good idea to get any questions you might have answered by your doctor. For example, what kinds of foods should I eat after my surgery? What types of physical activities can I resume after my surgery? How long does it take for me to recover from bariatric surgery? Your doctor will be able to answer these questions and more at your preoperative appointment. After all, it’s important that you feel confident about going under the knife if you want to maximize post-surgery results! To learn more about how weight-loss surgeries work and what they entail, check out our Gastric Bypass Surgery Guide today!
After Your Surgery
It’s important to follow your surgeon’s instructions after you’ve had bariatric surgery. The Roux-en-Y procedure, for example, has several restrictions immediately following surgery and then allows more flexibility as time goes on. If you want to lose weight, stay informed about your specific procedure and talk with your doctor about postoperative exercise routines or any other plans that could help you lose weight effectively. You can also reach out to online communities like Baritastic for support and advice from others who have undergone similar procedures.
What To Expect During Recovery
The Roux-en-Y procedure removes 60 percent of your stomach, shortening it and rerouting it to make room for your intestines. Many patients leave the hospital within two days of surgery. Swelling and discomfort can be common in the first few days after surgery but should subside as you recover. You’ll want to avoid strenuous activity for at least a week or two, though walking is fine.
You may also experience some diarrhea during recovery; however, if it lasts longer than a week or gets worse, contact your doctor immediately. After about three weeks you’ll be able to resume most activities (though check with your doctor before resuming any exercise). Most people who have undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass can return to work within six weeks of their surgery date—but don’t rush back too soon! Give yourself time to heal completely before jumping back into things.
The Risks and Complications of this Surgery
The most common complication of gastric bypass surgery is dumping syndrome, in which undigested nutrients cause nausea, weakness, sweating, and diarrhea. Although rare, more serious complications can also occur. They include internal bleeding, infection, and hernias. In most cases, gastric bypass surgery is successful in controlling or reversing obesity. If you are obese or overweight and considering having gastric bypass surgery performed on you because you need to lose weight quickly for health reasons, discuss these potential risks with your surgeon.
A study published in March 2013 found that about 1 percent of patients who had gastric bypass surgery died within 30 days after their operation. Gastric bypass surgeries done through traditional methods have an average mortality rate of 0.5 percent over five years, according to a 2005 study published in Obesity Surgery. Another study published in October 2010 found that 0.2 percent of people who had a sleeve gastrectomy died within five years after their operation; however, nearly 6 percent required additional operations within that period.
Video – Roux-en-Y procedure
Video Source: https://tijuanabariatriccenter.com/bariatric-surgery/gastric-bypass/
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