Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass in Augusta, Georgia
The Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass operation involves two key steps:
First, a small pouch is made using the upper portion of the stomach. This limits the amount of food one can take in. Overeating can cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Next, a portion of the small intestine is bypassed and reattached to the small pouch. Food bypasses this portion of the intestine and mixes with enzymes further down the GI tract.
Weight loss from this operation is caused by both restriction (small pouch) and malabsorption (bypassed intestine).
Gastric bypass typically takes about 3-hours to perform. Patients usually spend 3 days in the hospital afterwards and return to work 2-4 weeks after surgery.
This operation has very good long-term benefits, including an average excess weight loss of 50-70% at 2-years, 50-60% excess weight loss at 5-years following surgery and significant improvement or resolution of medical conditions associated with morbid obesity such as diabetes.
The operation can be performed using open or laparoscopic techniques. Most operations are performed using the laparoscopic or “minimally invasive” technique.
Laparoscopic gastric bypass uses several small skin incisions (cuts) for a camera and instruments used by the surgeon to perform the operation. It usually results in a shorter stay in the hospital, a faster recovery and return to normal activities, less pain after surgery and less risk of certain complications such as hernias and infections.
At the Georgia Regents Weight Loss Center, all operations are performed using the laparoscopic technique. Your safety is our primary concern, so a handful of cases may be converted to the open technique if the laparoscopic operation cannot be done safely. All operations are performed by surgeons with expertise and specialty training in both laparoscopic and bariatric surgery.
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