Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is designed to create a small pouch of stomach that restricts food intake. A Y-shaped section of the small intestine is then attached to the pouch to bypass the first and second segments of the small intestine. This causes a decrease in the amount of food and calories that are absorbed by the body, thus resulting in weight loss.

Weight loss tends to be quick after surgery and you can continue to lose weight 18 to 24 months after surgery. Weight loss results from a restricted diet due to the size of your new pouch. Weight loss surgery contributes to improvements in obesity-related conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, and other medical conditions.

As with any surgery, there are risks involved. Risks related specifically to weight loss surgery include the possibility of nutritional deficits, hernia development, and gallstone development due to rapid weight loss. Proper consumption of foods and following your doctors' orders may help reduce your chance of an unwanted complication.