Gastric Bypass

A gastric bypass works in two ways:

• It creates a small upper stomach pouch and a lower stomach pouch that is no longer used. This effectively reduces your stomach size so you eat small amounts of food.
• It allows the food you eat to bypass the majority of your stomach (the unused lower part of your old stomach) and small intestine so that the food you do eat is not fully digested.

The benefits of gastric bypass surgery are that weight loss tends to be rapid with good long-term results for many, and that patients often see swift improvements in obesity related health conditions. It requires a commitment to changing your eating habits and focussing on nutritious foods. You would need to take vitamins for life and have quarterly vitamin B12 injections. As with any operations, much of the success is dependent on your ability to change your lifestyle. Most patients find that the benefits of working with the operation are worth it and they really enjoy the new weight loss.

The typical gastric bypass cost is between £9,500 and £15,000 throughout the UK. At Ramsay Health Care UK, a gastric bypass is very competitively priced from a guide price of £9,600. This gastric bypass package includes: 24 months aftercare that comprises access to a team of specialist bariatric nurses, dieticians and regular medical reviews. Payment plans are available to fund your treatment.

So, who can have a gastric bypass? You may be eligible for gastric bypass surgery if:

• Your BMI (body mass index) score is 40 or more.
• Your BMI is 35 or more and you have other medical conditions such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure that may be improved by losing weight.
• You are fit enough to have a general anaesthetic and surgery.
• You are committed to losing weight and maintaining your weight loss through lifestyle and gastric bypass diet changes.
• You have tried to lose weight in other ways such as eating healthily, exercising and taking relevant medicines.

Initially, you will only be able to have fluids. You will then move on to puréed food and eventually add solid food to your diet. You will be advised to take vitamin and mineral supplements to ensure you are getting all the nutrients your body needs for a healthy lifestyle for the rest of your life. You may also need regular injections of vitamin B12 to prevent pernicious anaemia.

Your weight loss surgeon or a dietitian will discuss your gastric bypass diet including changes to the foods and their reduced quantities that you should be consuming. Once you have lost some of your initial excess weight they will also discuss healthier lifestyle options and how to become more active.

Most people take between four and six weeks to make a full recovery after gastric bypass surgery.

Aftercare is included within your treatment price and you will have access to a range of specialists and information to help you with your aftercare and support.

You may experience some gastric bypass surgery side effects including: bruising, pain and swelling around your wounds, and dumping syndrome if you continue poor eating habits and over eating. Dumping syndrome is common if you eat weight gaining foods high in sugar and fat and can cause diarrhoea, stomach cramps, nausea, dizziness and sweating. You will eventually learn to avoid these foods unless you want to experience dumping syndrome symptoms. There are complications associated with any surgery and these will be discussed when you have a consultation with a surgeon.

When it comes to gastric bypass surgeries, there are two different kinds: the traditional gastric bypass and the mini gastric bypass. A mini gastric bypass performs the same purpose as a traditional gastric bypass, however the main difference is that it makes the stomach much smaller and reroutes the small intestine.

A mini bypass takes less time to perform than the traditional gastric bypass, and it’s also a more straightforward procedure out of the two. It’s becoming the more popular choice, as it offers similar results when it comes weight loss and health benefits. On average a mini gastric bypass can take about 45 minutes to an hour to perform.

Patients lose weight because the gastric pouch that they have fills with food quite quickly so that they are content with a much smaller meal. Additionally there is some food non digestion due to the delayed mixing with digestive enzymes, the hormonal changes that occur due to delayed food mixing not only make people feel full but also help control type 2 diabetes.

For more information on what a mini gastric bypass is click here.