Understanding Gastric Bypass Surgery Article

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Understanding Gastric Bypass Surgery

Laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery is an effective way of fighting the health risks posed by obesity, but it should be carefully considered by all potential patients.

Author: Sara Goldstein

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Understanding how gastric bypass surgery works and the type of commitment it requires for safe rapid weight loss is important in order for candidates to make an informed decision.

Gastric bypass surgery is a serious procedure that re-routes your digestive tract, changing the way your body absorbs food and nutrients. An experienced, board-certified bariatric surgeon can explain all of the possible risks and complications of this surgery to you during a consultation. Gastric bypass is often recommended by primary physicians for patients who are morbidly obese and need to lose weight quickly in order to avoid life-threatening health consequences.

How Gastric Bypass Surgery Works
Many people who start a diet try to eat smaller portions at every meal, but just end up feeling hungry all the time. Even if you manage to fight that hunger for several days, most people eventually break down. Gastric bypass ends this frustrating cycle by drastically shrinking your stomach to around 10% of its initial size, allowing you to feel full after eating only a small, healthy meal.

Once the pouch has been created, your bariatric surgeon will then connect it directly to your small intestine. Besides helping you limit the size of your meal portions, this surgical technique also prevents your body from absorbing all of the calories and fat content in your food. Food passes through your small intestine more quickly than normal, giving your body less time to absorb the content. Known as malabsorption, this further contributes to rapid weight loss.

The Gastric Bypass Diet
After gastric bypass surgery is successfully completed, you will need to carefully follow a specific dietary plan that dictates what you can eat and how much you eat. This diet is important for several reasons:

• Avoiding side effects and complications
• Training you in eating smaller portions of food that are safe to digest
• Allowing your stomach to heal
• Helping you lose weight and avoid gaining it back

The first stage of your diet will include liquid foods that need to be slowly consumed. Once you progress to solid foods, you will need to start with very small pieces that are thoroughly chewed. Larger pieces of food can block the small opening that leads from your stomach to your intestine.
You will also need to take daily vitamin and mineral supplements, since your body does not absorb nutrients from food the same way it once did. Your bariatric surgeon can help you outline your post-surgery weight loss and eating plan in detail before you begin the surgical process, helping you understand exactly what to expect.

About Author

If you live in the Los Angeles, Orange County, or Riverside areas of California and have more questions about gastric bypass surgery, please visit the website of experienced bariatric surgeon Dr. Shyam Dahiya today for more information.

www.doctorbariatric.com

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