Gastric Bypass Surgery in Central Florida
The Gold Standard of Weight Loss Surgery
The laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, more commonly known simply as gastric bypass, is perhaps the most well-known surgical weight loss procedure. There’s a reason gastric bypass is considered by many to be the “gold standard” of weight loss surgery: it’s a highly effective procedure for most qualified candidates. Simply put, the process involves the surgical re-sizing of the stomach and re-structuring of the intestines. This limits the amount of food an individual is able to digest, leading in most cases, to substantial weight loss.
East Coast Bariatrics has more than 15 years of experience providing gastric bypass surgery in Central Florida. Our surgeons are fellowship trained in bariatric surgery and we have an entire support team made up of multi-disciplinary staff members who are there to provide assistance and guidance from pre to post-op.
Interested in gastric bypass surgery? Contact East Coast Bariatrics to learn more today!
How Does the Gastric Bypass Procedure Work?
Gastric bypass surgery consists of two components. The fist component involves the division of the stomach into two parts: a small upper pouch about one ounce in volume, and a larger, lower pouch that consists of the rest of the stomach. The second component involves the division of the first portion of the small intestine. During the procedure, the lower end of the small intestine is connected to the newly created small stomach pouch. Lastly, the upper portion of the divided small intestine is connected to the rest of the small intestine further down to allow digestive enzymes and stomach acids to mix with food.
Because the newly divided upper portion of the stomach is much smaller than an average stomach, it prevents an individual from consuming large meals. In this way, calorie intake is limited. Gastric bypass surgery also reduces nutrient and calorie absorption through the restricting of the small intestine. Perhaps most importantly, however, this procedure alters gut hormones to promote satiety (thereby suppressing hunger) and disrupt the advent of Type 2 diabetes due to obesity.
Gastric Bypass Pros & Cons
Though it is generally highly regarded, there are both pros and cons to gastric bypass surgery. As with any bariatric procedure, your unique results will vary with this procedure.
Some of the advantages of gastric bypass include:
- Can lead to significant weight loss (up to 60-80% excess weight loss)
- Promotes long-term weight loss in most patients
- Enhances feelings of satiety while reducing hunger/appetite
- Limits the amount of food that can be consumed/calorie absorption
- Can lead to increases in energy expenditure over time
- Most patients see maintenance of more than 50% of excess weight loss
Some of the disadvantages of gastric bypass include:
- Technically more complicated than other bariatric procedures
- May carry a higher risk for complications
- In most cases, requires a longer hospital stay than other procedures
- May lead to long-term vitamin and nutrient deficiencies
- Requires lifelong mineral/vitamin supplementation
- Patients must follow dietary guidelines and perform follow-up check-ins
If you’re interested in gastric bypass surgery in the Central Florida area, East Coast Bariatrics can help you understand your options and find the right weight loss solution. Our team is happy to answer any questions you may have.
Call us today to request a consultation or to learn more about our gastric bypass procedures.