Gastric bypass surgery in East Texas
At UT Health Tyler Bariatric Center, our compassionate team of weight loss surgeons is dedicated to providing effective weight loss solutions tailored to each patient’s unique needs. Specializing in advanced weight loss surgery, our weight loss center offers gastric bypass surgery, a highly effective bariatric surgery procedure known for exceptional weight loss outcomes. Our experienced bariatric surgeons are committed to guiding you through every step of your weight loss journey, ensuring you receive the highest quality care at our state-of-the-art weight loss center. Discover a new path to health and wellness with our personalized weight loss procedures at UT Health Tyler.
About gastric bypass surgery
Gastric bypass surgery divides the stomach into two unequal parts. The top part (the “pouch”), is only about the size of an egg. The rest of the stomach then becomes the “bypassed stomach” or “excluded stomach” because food and drinks no longer enter it. The bypass stomach is not removed, and still makes stomach enzymes and juices.
Once the pouch has been created, food enters the top and then leaves the pouch through a small opening called the “stoma.” It then travels into the intestines where digestion can take place. The juices from the bypassed stomach travel down a different part of the intestines, and are then mixed with the food to aid in digestion. No part of the stomach or intestines is removed.
Gastric bypass surgery has four effects, and every patient experiences different degrees of each effect. These effects are:
- Dumping: The intestines are much more sensitive than the stomach and this can cause unpleasant reactions to certain types of food. Usually high-calorie foods, such as concentrated sugars and fats, are the type that cause problems. Dumping can include nausea, diarrhea, cramping and low blood sugar. These unpleasant side effects help you stay away from junk food.
- Malabsorption: After gastric bypass surgery, you may not digest all of the calories in the food you eat. This is a relatively minor effect of the surgery
- Reduced appetite: There is usually no hunger at all for the first few weeks to months after surgery. Hunger does come back eventually for most people. When it does, hunger is usually less than before surgery and can be satisfied with much less food. Gastric bypass works by reducing a “hunger hormone” called ghrelin.
- Restriction: The small pouch and stoma make you fill up on much less food. For the first few months after surgery, this may be only about a quarter of a cup. As time goes on, people can usually eat about a cup of food.
Gastric bypass surgery offers several advantages compared to other bariatric operations. It typically results in somewhat higher average weight loss than sleeve gastrectomy or gastric band procedures and provides the best chance of controlling GERD (acid reflux). Additionally, it offers a better chance of controlling diabetes than sleeve gastrectomy and, though rarely done, it can be reversed if necessary. Moreover, it poses less risk of malabsorption problems than “switch” procedures such as SADI-S or BPD/DS.
However, gastric bypass surgery is more complex than sleeve gastrectomy or gastric banding and carries the risk of developing a specific type of ulcer that does not occur with sleeve gastrectomy, gastric banding, or switch operations. These ulcers are rare, especially if tobacco products and NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are avoided. Additionally, although still very uncommon, there is an increased risk of bowel obstruction from internal hernias or adhesions compared to other bariatric operations.
Talk to one of our weight loss doctors about which procedure is best for you.
