After failing traditional weight loss methods people fighting morbid obesity are wondering if weight loss surgery, including gastric bypass otherwise called as roux-en-Y surgery is truly effective, if it is really true that they can lose the overweight and more importantly they can keep it off.
While the procedure itself the bariatric surgeon divides the stomach in two, creating a small pouch, then divides the jejunum into two sections creating this way a Y connection (this is where the name Roux-en-Y comes from); the following step is to connect the newly created small pouch to the jejunum. The food this way instead of going through the duodenum like it was before, bypasses it going directly to the jejunum.
Gastric bypass surgery is one of the most popular choices if it comes to the choice of weight loss surgery. With this procedure an average bariatric patient can lose about 65% of the excess weight in the first year after undergoing the surgical procedure. If the patient is determined to maintain the weight loss and permanently adopts a healthy lifestyle including not only a healthy diet but physical exercises as well and follows the guidelines given by the bariatric multidisciplinary team there should be no problems achieving the ultimate success in walking away from obesity.
Besides the obvious which is the weight loss gastric bypass is able to help improving several weight related illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, degenerative joint disease, metabolic syndrome, stress urinary incontinence, infertility (PCOS), high blood pressure, cardiovascular conditions, asthma, migraines and sleep apnea.
Gastric bypass surgery improves the quality of the patient's life and improves life expectancy.
Weight loss clinics often offer long term support for their patients, which are very important to attend. Not being alone, and being able to learn from each other the weight loss journey gets easier.
Dr. Jeremy Korman serves as director of bariatric surgery at L.A. Bariatrics the weight loss program of Marina Del Rey Hospital.
