Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Surgery Offers Weight Loss Solutions

For patients whose efforts to lose weight with diet, exercise and medication have failed, laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery offers effective treatment options for morbid obesity.

What is laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery?

Laparascopic gastric bypass is a weight loss surgery that changes the digestive process using several small incisions and laparoscopes – small thin tubes with attached video cameras.

It works three ways:

• Reduces the size of the stomach to restrict the amount of food intake (restriction).
• Limits the absorption of food by bypassing portions of the small intestine (malabsorption).
• Combines restriction and malabsorption to lose weight.

How does it work?

Aided with a video camera and monitor, surgeons use small incisions to create a small stomach pouch. The procedure reduces the amount of food your stomach can hold. The small intestine is altered so that food bypasses portions of the small intestine to limit the amount of calories your body absorbs. This surgery offers less pain and a faster recovery because it uses multiple tiny incisions instead of one large incision.

What are the side effects?

As with traditional gastric surgery, infection, blood clots, pneumonia, ulcers and gallstones can result from the procedure. Also, laparoscopic bypass can result in an increased risk of anemia and loss of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. Sufficient amounts of iron, calcium and vitamin B12 may not be absorbed, which can lead to metabolic bone disease and osteoporosis.

Register to attend one of our weight-loss seminars for more information about bariatric surgery.