Understanding Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, or simply gastric bypass surgery, is a weight loss procedure that aims at modifying your digestive system so that you consume and absorb fewer calories.

If your doctor has recommended gastric operation, this article is for you. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about this procedure.

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery: In a Nutshell

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery is a type of bariatric surgery for weight loss, usually recommended for people with clinically severe obesity, unable to lose weight through diet, medications and other means.

It helps manage several obesity-related health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea and GERD (chronic acid reflux).

At KCM Clinic, a multidisciplinary team of doctors is present to properly diagnose the condition and assess the need for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery.

The Procedure of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery

KCM Clinic performs the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery both laparoscopically (small incisions made in the abdomen) and robotically (computer-assisted surgery) based on your condition.

This procedure usually involves two steps:

Step 1: First, the upper portion of the stomach is separated from the lower portion and connected to a limb of the small intestine, called the “Roux Limb.” This helps reduce the size of the new stomach pouch and restrict the amount of food you can eat.

Step 2: After creating the smaller pouch, your digestive system is rerouted to bypass the larger part of your stomach and part of your small intestine, resulting in the absorption of fewer calories and nutrients from the food you eat.

Advantages of the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery

Research indicates that with Roux-en-Y bypass surgery, average weight loss is more than with laparoscopic adjustable band and sleeve gastrectomy.

In addition, comorbidities of excess weight, such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension, may also begin to improve even before losing much weight.

Furthermore, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass doesn’t let any devices stay inside you after the surgery.

Disadvantages of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery

Roux-en-Y gastric surgery is an irreversible treatment. Therefore, it is recommended only after all the other means of weight loss have failed.

In this procedure, healing may take a bit longer because the digestive organs are rerouted.

The procedure may also reduce your ability to absorb nutrients and calories. Hence, you will need to take vitamins and other required supplements for the rest of your life.

You will also need to follow low-sugar and low-starch diet guidelines after surgery to promote effective weight loss.

At KCM Clinic, we make sure to provide nutrition training after the surgery to aid you with your diet planning. Your appointments at the clinic are also scheduled at regular intervals after surgery so that the doctor can monitor the level of nutrients in your body.

A Final Word

The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery is one of the best bariatric surgeries. However, along with the advantages, it comes with its own share of complications. Therefore, it is necessary to educate yourself about all postoperative problems and prepare yourself beforehand.

At KCM Clinic, we make sure that your gastric bypass surgery is a success. Therefore, we provide not only preoperative aid but also post-operative counselling and treatments.