What Is Gastric Bypass Surgery? Does Surgery for Obesity Work?

What is gastric bypass surgery? It is a surgical procedure that reduces the size of your stomach and bypasses a portion of your small intestines.

This weight loss surgery provides restriction and malabsorption to aid in the effort to fight against morbid obesity. The roux-en-y gastric bypass surgery is restrictive because the actual size of your stomach is altered and brought down to the size of a golf ball (approximately).

This way, you are not able to eat large portions of food. When you do eat more food than your new pouch (smaller stomach) canhold you will get sick. Many people who suffer from morbid obesity have a problem with eating too much food. This problem is resolved after surgery.

What is gastric bypass surgery? It is a malabsorptive procedure. This means that after surgery, your body will not be able to absorb food, and the vitamins and nutrients it takes from food, in the same way. This is something you need to know when asking, “What is gastric bypass surgery?”

With malabsorption, your body can't effectively absorb the vitamins and nutrients you are taking in. This is due to the "bypassing" of a large part of the small intestines, where much of the food absorption takes place. While this does aid in the elimination of morbid obesity, it can also cause problems.

To combat the malabsorptive problem after surgery, many patients must take liquid vitamins or powder vitamins. They are also recommended to have periodic vitamin B-12 shots, as well as daily supplements.

Many people also find that they are now anemic after bariatric surgery, when they weren't before. Iron supplements are also available in liquid form. The liquid and powdered vitamins and supplements are absorbed by your body faster than the pill form.

Can I Get Pregnant After Gastric Bypass Surgery

Yes, you can get pregnant after having any weight loss surgery, for those women wanting to know what is gastric bypass surgery. Many people suffering from morbid obesity have weight related fertility problems. Some women have found themselves pregnant after losing the weight without even trying. But you should not consider having a bariatric procedure as a form of fertility treatment for the obese, because it is not.

Gastric bypass surgery malabsorption issues also affect women who become pregnant after having surgery. They have to be very careful and religious with their liquid and powder vitamins, calcium, and iron intake. This is to avoid complications of mother and baby, as well as deterring possible birth defects. A gastric bypass pregnancy should be monitored carefully by your bariatric doctor and your obstetrician/gynecologist.

Morbid obesity can cause many health issues, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, and asthma. Many of these health problems are drastically improved or totally eliminated after surgery, and the subsequent weight loss. But weight loss surgery doesn't come without risk.

For many, the benefits definitely outweigh the down side. But there are those who regret having a bariatric surgery to achieve weight loss. Each experience is different, and all choices are personal. You make ultimately make the decision that you will have to live with afterward. I hope this answers your question, "What is gastric bypass surgery?"

Can you gain weight after Gastric Bypass Surgery

Leave What is Gastric Bypass Go to Weight Loss Surgery Home