Gastric Bypass Surgery
Gastric sleeve surgery, or vertical sleeve gastrectomy, is one of the newer types of bariatric surgery. This surgery can also be referred to medically as gastric sleeve resection, sleeve gastrectomy, tube gastrectomy or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.
Gastric bypass can greatly improve the quality of life not only because of an improvement in appearance and an increase in mobility, but also because it can reduce the number and severity of health problems that overweight people are prone to suffer, such as diabetes and heart/circulation problems. Increasingly, the surgery is covered by gastric bypass insurance from both public and private insurers.
It is a complex procedure performed under general anesthesia — you sleep through it. Time in surgery is approximately one to four hours, followed by a one- to seven-day stay in the hospital. Currently, two techniques are available for gastric bypass:
(Another form of weight loss surgery that does not involve a bypass is Lap-Band surgery.)
Roux-En-Y-Gastric Bypass (Traditional And Laparoscopic)
The Roux-en-Y bypass is more common and considered less complicated than the biliopancreatic diversion bypass, since Roux-en-Y does not remove portions of the stomach.
The traditional Roux-en-Y-gastric bypass is performed through open surgery with one long incision.
The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass can also be performed laparoscopically. The laparoscopic Roux-en-Y-gastric bypass uses multiple smaller incisions (instead of one long incision) — a laparoscopic tool is inserted, which offers a visual guide to the inside of the abdomen during the procedure.
The laparoscopic Roux-en-Y produces less scarring and lets you recover faster than the traditional Roux-en-Y-gastric bypass. But the laparoscopic approach is still new, so long-term results have not been fully evaluated.
Biliopancreatic Diversion Bypass
The biliopancreatic diversion bypass is performed through open surgery with one long incision, leaving a permanent scar. It is less common and more complicated than the Roux-en-Y-gastric bypass.
In the biliopancreatic diversion, portions of the stomach are removed and the bypass is attached to the distal illium. This procedure is not widely used, because there is more risk of nutritional deficiencies.
Both Techniques Use A Bypass
In both techniques, a small stomach pouch is created to curb food intake, by stapling a portion of the stomach. Then, a Y-shaped part of the small intestine is attached to the stomach pouch so that food can bypass the duodenum, as the bypass extends to the initial portion of the jejunum.
The bypasses of the small intestine are formed to decrease the absorption of food nutrients. These techniques significantly restrict food intake and reduce hunger to promote healthy weight loss.
Most of the weight loss is evident within one year and is usually completed by the end of the second year.
Gastric Bypass Recovery And Aftercare
After gastric bypass surgery, many patients spend two to three days in the hospital, or one to two days for the laparoscopic procedure. On average, most people require two to five weeks of recovery before returning to normal activities.
For a number of days your abdomen will be swollen and sore, and you'll likely feel discomfort. Your doctor can prescribe medications to help you manage the discomfort.
All the techniques leave a permanent scar, but normally scarring is covered by clothing.
Aftercare treatments typically include a dietary plan, regular exercise, behavioral-modification therapy, and vitamin supplements. Your weight loss surgeon or plastic surgeon might require the use of a dietician, an exercise program, and possibly a psychologist for an extended period of time to assist you in your gastric bypass recovery. Plastic surgery after massive weight loss may be necessary to remove excess skin and fat and create a more shapely body profile. Panniculectomy andbody lift are common post-bariatric procedures.