Before gastric bypass, your doctor may recommend that you start an exercise and diet program in preparation for the surgery. Tobacco use may be restricted. The patient’s condition is taken into consideration when planning the equipment and methods to be used during the procedure. Open surgery or closed laparoscopic surgery methods can be applied. Factors such as the severity of obesity, the patient’s age, and general health condition are effective in deciding the type of method. The procedures performed in the gastric bypass operation proceed in the following order:
- General anesthesia is applied to the patient before the surgery. Thus, no pain or suffering is felt during the procedure.
- An incision is made in the abdominal area to access the stomach and intestines.
- After reaching the abdomen, the stomach is reduced and turned into a pouch.
- Then, the first part of the small intestine is skipped and cut, and the reduced stomach is stitched and tied.
- After the surgery is completed within a few hours, the patient is taken to the rest room.
Is Gastric Bypass a Risky Surgery?
Since gastric bypass is a surgical operation, some risks may occur during or after the surgery. Conditions such as body aches, fatigue, dry skin, hair loss, and mood changes that may occur during the post-operative recovery period are temporary. Additionally, those who have gastric bypass may encounter problems such as excessive bleeding, infection, blood clots, and dumping syndrome. However, the risk rate may be quite low in surgeries performed by experienced doctors and in reliable hospitals with state-of-the-art equipment.
What should be taken into consideration before gastric bypass surgery?
Gastric bypass alone is not a sufficient method to lose weight. Therefore, you may need to take care to regulate your diet habits and exercise before gastric bypass surgery. Before the procedure, your doctor may impose some restrictions on eating and drinking habits. In addition, if there are medications used regularly, the doctor should be informed about this. These medications may need to be stopped or changed before the operation.
What Should Be Considered After Gastric Bypass? You may need to stay in the hospital for a few days after gastric bypass surgery. Once your general condition improves, you can be discharged with the doctor’s approval. You should follow your doctor’s advice to avoid any problems after the surgery and after discharge. Things to consider during the recovery process of the stomach and intestines after gastric bypass:
- Soft and liquid foods with puree consistency can be consumed. Solid foods should be avoided for a while.
- Nutritional supplements such as iron, calcium or vitamin B12 may be recommended.
- Doctor’s check-ups should not be interrupted.
- Heavy exercises should not be done.
What are the Nutrition Rules After Gastric Bypass Surgery?
Gastric bypass surgery involves making changes to the stomach and small intestine, which are parts of the digestive system. For this reason, some changes in digestive system functions may be observed after the procedure. There may be some food intake recommendations recommended by your doctor to prevent your body from being negatively affected by these changes. Nutritional rules after gastric bypass surgery may be as follows:
- Consuming food in small pieces
- Stopping eating when feeling full
- Chewing food completely
- Eat slowly
- Using recommended vitamin supplements
- Consuming enough water
- Drinking liquids by sipping
- Avoiding foods that are difficult to digest
- Do not consume carbonated drinks
- Avoid excessive food intake
Benefits of Gastric Bypass
Thanks to gastric bypass and stomach reduction method, obese individuals can reach normal weight. Thus, their living standards increase and they can have a healthier body. This method has many psychological and physical advantages. Benefits of Gastric Bypass may include:
- Since the stomach becomes smaller, consuming less food may be enough to feel full.
- Since the food taken bypasses a part of the small intestine, it is less digested. Thus, calorie intake can be limited
- Long-term weight loss may occur.
- It may be a solution to the obesity problem.
- Diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol that occur due to excess weight may regress.
- The ability to perform routine daily activities may increase.
- Weight problem can be solved in a single surgery.
- Self-confidence may increase due to having a more fit body structure.
Thanks to gastric bypass surgery, health problems that have arisen or may arise due to obesity can be prevented. Since this surgery involves surgical procedures performed under general anesthesia, it should be performed in reliable hands and by specialist doctors. In addition, general surgery, internal medicine, endocrinology, gastroenterology, psychiatry, nutrition and dietetics departments should work in a coordinated and multidisciplinary manner to decide on surgery and perform the operation. Therefore, if you are experiencing health problems related to obesity, you can apply to reliable hospitals that have all departments together.
April 11, 2025
