My Choice for Surgery: Gastric Bypass

What is it? The Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass combines a maximum long-term weight loss procedure with all the benefits of laparoscopic surgery. The procedure is performed with a state-of-the-art imaging and tiny keyhole incisions. The operation is usually completed in about two hours. Our average hospital length of stay is slightly less than 48 hours.

During Roux-en-Y surgery, the stomach is cut into two sections - a small, thumb-sized pouch (the new stomach) for receiving food, and a larger, lower section. The small intestine is then carefully measured and cut, and the lower part is connected to the new stomach. This new arrangement bypasses the larger segment of the stomach and the first portion of the small intestine. This allows you to eat very small food portions without the feelings of hunger or craving usually associated with food restriction.

Gastric Bypass surgery is the most common type of weight loss surgery performed in the United States. Most people lose 70 to 80 percent of their excess weight in the first 12 to 24 months. Even more dramatic, a 1999 study followed 500 patients who had undergone laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery. The study found that after five years of follow-up, the average excess body weight loss remained impressively high at 77%. In other words, patients lost their excess weight and kept it off. These results have been verified in more recent studies. Gastric bypass patients are more satisfied with life after losing weight.


Why did I choose bypass? I was totally set on lap band when I met with Dr. Chang. After talking to him and realizing the potential of weight I could lose, bypass was my only option. If I had wanted to lose 50 pounds, the lap band would be fine...but since I have 200 pounds to lose (scary to really write that down for the world to see - but honesty is the name of the game in this blog) the bypass is my solution.




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