Gastric bypass is a type of bariatric, or weight loss, surgery. There are two categories of weight loss surgery: restrictive and malabsorptive. Gastric bypass surgery is both. A patient who undergoes gastric bypass surgery can anticipate excess weight loss from a lower stomach capacity (restrictive) and decreased nutrient absorption (malabsorptive).

Does gastric bypass surgery interest you? If so, you should schedule a consultation at Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery to learn more. Our facility is home to Dr. Jay Long, an award-winning, licensed bariatric surgeon.

For our Mobile, Alabama residents, Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery is under a four-hour drive.

Gastric Bypass (Roux-en-Y) Surgery

One of the many reasons gastric bypass is so popular is because surgeons can perform the surgery laparoscopically. By using minimally invasive surgical techniques such as this, surgeons can ensure a quicker, less painful recovery for their patients, which you can expect at Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery. After all, it’s in the name!

The Procedure

To begin the procedure, an anesthesiologist will administer general anesthesia. Once the patient feels the anesthetic effects, Dr. Long will start making several small abdominal incisions through which he will make the necessary surgical adjustments. He will use a laparoscope and special surgical tools to cut the patient’s stomach and staple it closed, leaving behind a smaller pouch. Dr. Long will then attach the new pouch to the lower small intestine, which he has cut from the upper intestine as a means of bypassing. Dr. Long will check for leaks after he has made the connection. In total, he can complete the procedure in under two hours.

The Recovery

Gastric bypass surgery requires a one-to-two days stay at the hospital. You will be given pain medication and asked to follow a specialized gastric bypass diet, even once you’ve returned home to Mobile.

What are the benefits of gastric bypass surgery?

  • Surgeons first performed gastric bypass surgery in the United States in 1967, giving it the longest track record of any bariatric surgery.
  • Gastric bypass is the most highly recommended bariatric surgery for patients with sleep apnea, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
  • Patients who opt for gastric bypass tend to lose more excess weight than those who opt for gastric sleeve or gastric band surgery.
  • Gastric bypass surgery causes fast results – the average patient loses 66% of their excess weight within eight months.

What are the associated risks of gastric bypass surgery?

  • Gastric bypass surgery requires a hospital stay and has a longer expected recovery.
  • Surgeons cannot easily reverse gastric bypass surgery, but they can do it if medically necessary.
  • The connection between the stomach pouch and the lower intestine can begin to leak.
  • Life-long nutritional and mineral supplements are required.

Contact a Bariatric Surgeon Near Mobile, AL

The decision to undergo gastric bypass surgery is not easy. Nor is finding a bariatric surgeon with the right education and experience, surgical skills, and bedside manner. So don’t limit your search based on geography.

Dr. Long is an expert bariatric surgeon with award-winning surgical skills and a notable bedside manner. His patient reviews speak for themself. And the best part? Dr. Long performs surgery at Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery, a quick, four-hour drive from Mobile, Alabama.

To schedule a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Long, give Birmingham Minimally Invasive a call at (205) 833-6907 or send us a message via our online form.

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