Gastric bypass surgery

Gastric bypass surgery is one type of weight loss surgery. It reduces the size of your stomach and affects production of some hunger hormones. The combination can lead to significant weight loss.

At Atrium Health Floyd and Harbin Clinic, our bariatric surgeons assess each patient individually to determine whether they’re a good candidate for gastric bypass surgery. You’ll receive education, counseling and ongoing support after surgery to help you succeed.

What is gastric bypass surgery?

Gastric bypass surgery is a type of bariatric surgery (also referred to as weight loss surgery). The procedure, called Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, is the most frequently performed surgery for weight loss.

During the procedure, doctors staple off a small section of the stomach to form a pouch. They don’t remove the rest of the stomach, but they reroute your digestive system so that food only enters the small, newly formed pouch.

The pouch is attached so that it empties directly into the lower portion of the small intestine, bypassing much of the area that absorbs calories. This rerouting also affects production of hormones that signal hunger and fullness, helping you eat less.

Gastric bypass typically results in more weight loss and better long-term success than other types of bariatric surgery. A year after gastric bypass surgery, most people have lost 60–80% of their excess body weight. Ninety percent maintain that weight loss long term.

Other types of weight loss surgery

Gastric bypass surgery is the most common – and most successful – type of weight loss surgery. But it isn’t the only option. Depending on your condition and goals, your doctor may recommend another type of bariatric surgery, such as:

• Sleeve gastrectomy: During this procedure, surgeons remove about 75% of the stomach and reshape the remainder into a sleeve about the size of a banana. This newly formed sleeve can hold only a small amount of food. After this procedure, people lose an average of 60–70% of their excess weight.
• Laparoscopic gastric band: This procedure involves placing a band around part of the stomach. As you eat, the band gets tighter, limiting how much food you can consume. People with a gastric band lose about 50% of their excess weight.

Conditions treated with gastric bypass surgery

Gastric bypass surgery can help you lose a significant amount of weight quickly and keep it off long term. Losing weight and eating in a healthier way after surgery can also improve several obesity-related health conditions, including:

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Sleep apnea

Gastric bypass surgery side effects

Gastric bypass surgery is typically done using minimally invasive, laparoscopic techniques. While it is still a major surgery, these techniques reduce complications and speed healing.

There is a small risk of complications from any type of surgery, which include:

• Bleeding
• Blood clots
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Infection
• Pain
• Reaction to anesthesia

As you recover from gastric bypass surgery, your body goes through significant changes. You will lose a lot of weight and need to make serious adjustments to your diet. As part of this process, you may experience other side effects, such as:

• Constipation
• Dumping syndrome, when the stomach contents empty too quickly into the small intestine
• Excess skin due to rapid weight loss
• Gallstones
• Hair loss
• Nutritional deficiencies

Your care team will work with you to learn how to eat a healthy diet, increase nutrient intake and reduce other complications.