5 Facts to Know about Gastric Bypass

Is gastric bypass reversible? Before jumping to the conclusion, we will take you to everything you need to know about this procedure. Generally, gastric bypass is one type of surgery to lose weight. This is also called Roux-en-Y.

Once you’ve done this procedure, every meal that comes into your stomach will get into a small pouch placed in your stomach. Below, there are several things you need to know about this surgery.

1. What is a gastric bypass?

This procedure is the most common method to lose weight. Is gastric bypass reversible? Not, this surgery is not necessarily reversible. Everything you eat will be processed and decreased in a small pouch before getting absorbed by your body. Thus, you will eat less.

2. Reasons to undergo gastric bypass surgery

Gastric bypass surgery is done to take care of extreme obesity conditions. Other than that, it may lower the patient’s risks of several health issues, such as infertility, stroke, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, heart disease, GERD, and high blood pressure. However, this may be suggested by your doctor after a series of diet and exercise you’ve done didn’t give any promising results.

3. Who is eligible for a gastric bypass?

Generally, this option is offered if a person has met certain characters. If your BMI is 40 or higher then you need to take this option. Even if your BMI is lower than 40, but you have serious weight-related health issues then you also need to take this option.

Before performing this surgery, a medical team will conduct a series of the extensive screening process. If you intend to take this surgery, check with your health insurance provider whether or not this treatment is covered.

4. Risks of gastric bypass surgery

Gastric bypass is major surgery. Thus, you might be exposed to several health risks if you decide to take this action. A few short-term risks include gastrointestinal system leakage, breathing problems, blood clots, reactions to anesthesia, infection, and excessive bleeding. The long-term risks include hernia, stomach perforation, malnutrition, vomiting, ulcers, hypoglycemia, and bowel obstruction to name a few.

5. Things to expect

Since this procedure needs to be done in the hospital, you are expected to stay for at least three days. As we have mentioned earlier, this method is not just for anyone with extreme obesity. A medical team will perform a series of intensive screening to find out whether or not you are eligible.

Just like other surgeries, you will be sedated. The surgery itself takes about a few hours. After the surgery, the medical staff will give you liquids since your stomach is still in the recovery process. Make sure you follow all rules and restrictions about the dietary as well as lifestyle changes in general.

You may also be asked to take certain vitamins and other nutrition regularly during the recovery process. A rapid weight loss will show up three months after the surgery. It is important to watch your diet. And this is the end section of “is gastric bypass reversible”.