What Is a Roux en Y Gastric Bypass?

What is a roux en y gastric bypass?

A roux en y gastric bypass is a type of weight loss surgery also known as bariatric surgery. If you want to learn more about the gastric bypass and roux en y procedure look no further. Here is the info you are looking for. 

Laparoscopic Roux en Y Gastric Bypass

The laparoscopic roux en y gastric bypass is often done with small incisions in the abdomen.

A roux en y gastric bypass reduces the size of our upper stomach to that of the size of an egg. This weight loss surgery helps by reducing the number of calories and fat that your body absorbs from the food you eat.

Many do say this is the safest weight loss surgery to use if you’re overweight and struggling to lose it in other ways.

Gastric bypass roux en y accounts for approximately 47% of all weight loss surgeries. If you’re thinking about having this procedure done, it’s important to know all of the details about it.

Prior to your gastric bypass you will need to follow a liver shrinking diet. 

Gastric Bypass Step One

There are two steps to the Gastric bypass roux en y weight loss surgery. Step one is where the surgeon will separate your stomach into two parts.

There will be a larger portion of the stomach and a smaller portion of stomach created during step one of your Gastric bypass roux en y surgery.

Once the surgeon has separated your stomach into two parts, the small stomach will be stapled so that it is just large enough to hold about one cup of food.

Step one basically restricts your stomach from overeating.

You will feel fuller quicker and eat less food which will lead to weight loss after your Gastric bypass roux en y surgery so long as you stick to the right foods and don't overstretch your pouch. 

Gastric Bypass Step Two

The second part of this weight loss surgery attaches the intestine to the small part of the stomach, which is often referred to as the pouch.

The small part of the stomach along with the first part of your intestine is joined together, the surgeon attaches both pieces to a part of your small intestine a bit further down. This process is called roux-en-y.

By doing this part of the Gastric bypass roux en y weight loss surgery your body will now be limited on how many nutrients and calories it absorbs when you eat food.

This second step, once completed, is what makes a roux en y gastric bypass become a bariatric surgery leading to weight loss as less food is absorbed once more.

This is a tool to help with weight loss surgery and you will need to follow a strict diet plan to achieve successful weight loss. 

Gastric Bypass Complications

There are some minor and major complications that can occur with Roux en y gastric bypass weight loss surgery.

As with any surgery, there will be time spent in the hospital afterward to ensure you’re body is healed enough to return home.

Usually, patients spend 2-3 nights in the hospital after the Roux en y gastric bypass has been completed.

The complications associated with gastric bypass impact about 10% of those who have had this procedure done and most are minimal.

Minor Roux en y gastric bypass complications include:

• Ulcers
• Bleeding
• Digestive Problems
• Wound Infections

Life-Threatening or Major Roux en y gastric bypass complications include:

• Heart attack
• Blood clot
• Leakage where the intestines were connected
• Serious infection or bleeding

The key to making sure you are at a lower risk of Roux en y gastric bypass complications is to ensure that you have this procedure done at a facility that has completed more than 100 weight loss surgeries per year.

It’s important to have your bariatric surgery done by an experienced surgeon who’s done this on a regular basis, versus a new surgeon who may handle less than 100 Roux en y gastric bypass weight loss surgeries per year.

You might also want to ask about the success rate and the fatality rate as well when choosing who will perform your surgery.

Living Life After Gastric Bypass

Once you have successfully had your Roux en y gastric bypass weight loss surgery done, your life will be slightly different.

You will have dietary restrictions and may be told to take a multivitamin to ensure you keep your nutrients levels up.

You may expect to have a dramatic level of weight loss immediately following surgery.

You may see the risk or health problems that were associated with being overweight disappear almost immediately after Roux en y gastric bypass has been completed.

Going forward you will have to be more aware of portion control with your food. You may also be assigned a dietician that will guide you towards making good dietary decisions.

This surgery is something that creates a significant amount of weight loss and forces your body to handle food intake differently.

It’s best to know all of the details before opting to have this weight loss surgery done.

Many patients have been quite happy with their results from Roux en y gastric bypass, it’s just a matter of staying educated on the topic before having this surgical procedure completed.

other patients do regain the weight when the procedure is not performed correctly or if they don't follow the dietary guidelines and may need a gastric bypass revision in future.

What Food Can I Eat After Gastric Bypass Surgery?

Following your gastric bypass procedure you will undergo different stages of eating, from liquids, to pureed, soft mashed foods to solids. You can read more about the different food stages following Gastric Bypass here.