Gastric Bypass surgery is one class of bariatric surgery in Mexico, surgical treatments for morbid obesity – the severe accumulation of excess weight in fatty tissue and the health problems associated with it (comorbidities).
The idea behind the operation is to create a small pouch in the upper part of the stomach with a controlled and adjustable stoma, without stapling, thus limiting food intake. A gastric band device is introduced through tiny (1cm) incisions in the abdomen and is placed around the upper part of the stomach. The resulting pouch (or the “new stomach”) dramatically reduces the functional capacity of the stomach. The band has a balloon from the inside that is adjustable and can reduce stoma size, thus prolonging the period of fullness. This helps the patient continually lose weight until they reach their goals. The restriction takes place in the radiology suite and takes 15 minutes. They inject saline into a port placed under the skin in the wall of the stomach. The tube that comes off of the band leads to the harbor.
The benefits of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass surgery in Mexico are significant weight loss and a reduction in obesity co-morbidities (diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea). Not only will the Gastric Bypass help you lose weight, but as you lose weight, you will see an overall improvement in your health.
Advantages of gastric banding:
- The procedure is minimally invasive
- No cutting, stapling, or rerouting of the stomach or intestines
- Calibrated pouch and stoma size
- Can be adjusted to the patient’s needs after surgery with no operation to change the stoma
- Laparoscopic removal possible
- Fully reversible
- Short hospital stay (does not exceed 48 hours)
You will undergo an extensive workup to determine whether this operation is indicated and safe in your case. The preoperative screening will consist of complete blood tests, imaging studies, a gastroscopy, and consultations with various specialists.
Gastric Bypass in Mexico Details
Because weight loss surgery is a lifestyle decision, it is important to understand all surgery types, the benefits, complications, and risks associated with them before committing to a procedure fully. Gastric bypass surgery is a type of weight loss surgery that alters the digestion process by limiting and restricting the amount of food that the stomach can take in, limits the absorption of those foods, or a combination of both of these things. The stomach is divided into a smaller portion that is stapled to create a little pouch. The new pouch is disconnected from a part of the intestine and then reconnected to allow food to pass directly from the stomach into the lower portion of the intestine. This helps promote weight loss.
Benefits
Not only does gastric bypass cause extreme weight loss, but it has been proven that it contributes to improving comorbidities such as high blood pressure, Type II Diabetes, sleep apnea, and arthritis. The surgery is considered a permanent solution but can be reversible for those that have experiences leakages or blockages.
Candidates For Surgery
The best candidates according to the University of Chicago Medicine believe a patient with proven failed attempts at losing weight with a body mass index (BMI) of between 35 to 40 with obesity-related medical conditions or individuals with a BMI of over 40. Other tests will be done before surgery occurs to determine the safety of the procedure with that particular candidate. Some tests may include an abdominal ultrasound, a colonoscopy, chest x-ray, echocardiogram, pap smear, pulmonary function tests, sleep study, stress test, and cardiac cauterization. This surgery is not recommended for individuals with medical conditions such as hypertension or Type II Diabetes, also those over 55 years old are deterred from having this kind of weight loss surgery.
Complications/Risks
Some risks of weight loss surgery, in general, are nutritional deficiencies, port or wound infection, acute stomach obstruction, internal leak, and incisional hernia. Lung problems, dumping syndrome, gallstones, low blood sugar, ulcers, vomiting, and malnutrition all can also occur in rare instances.
Expected Weight Loss
Patients can expect to lose about 50-80% of their excess weight. This is with regular exercise and by following the post-op diet correctly. Typically gastric bypass patients lose the most weight within the first year or two after surgery and maintain weight loss the longest than other bariatric surgery types.
Hospital Stay
Most patients are in the hospital for three to five days after surgery. Patients are asked to walk each day and may have a catheter draining fluids from their stomachs. Many individuals will not be able to eat for several days but will be given liquids or pureed food instead. A patient will be able to go home when they can eat liquid food without vomiting, can move around without a ton of pain, and don’t need IV pain medication anymore.
Post-Op
Regular follow-ups are essential for gastric bypass patients. Patients must also take a calcium supplement with Vitamin D, an iron pill, Vitamin B12, and a multivitamin. Some patients may opt to have plastic surgery after their extreme weight loss experiences such as a body lift, body contouring, or arm lift. Typically patients cannot soak in water until all incisions are healed. They also can only drive after they have finished using pain medications following surgery. Gastric bypass patients typically return to work after a few weeks depending on their individual healing and their adjustment to their new post-op diet.
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