Gastric bypass makes your stomach smaller and changes the path your food travels. Your body will absorb smaller amounts of calories and nutrients.
During surgery, your doctor connects a small pouch from your stomach to the lower part of your small intestine. You’ll stay in the hospital for two to three nights. Depending on your job, you can expect to be off work for at least two to three weeks.
Advantages
Benefit from:
- Fast weight loss
- Still being able to eat most foods, except sweets and fats
This surgery can help treat:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Sleep apnea
- Type 2 diabetes (in about 80% of patients)
Disadvantages
Your procedure may be hard to reverse. It also carries certain risks:
- Bowel obstruction, or blockages
- Decreased ability to absorb nutrients like vitamin B12, calcium, iron, and zinc
- Dumping syndrome, which may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, and sweating
- Leaks from incisions or infections