Gastric Bypass

Gastric bypass surgery can lead to significant weight loss and may improve or cure Type 2 diabetes by controlling your blood sugar even before you have lost most of your excess weight. Generally, our surgeons perform gastric bypass laparoscopically, using a minimally invasive technique.

Although bypass is a permanent and surgical process, it can be more effective than other procedures in achieving and maintaining significant weight loss, treating acid reflux, and curing diabetes.

How It Works

During the procedure, your surgeon creates a small pouch by dividing the upper portion of your stomach from the lower portion. This pouch, cannot hold as much food as your pre-surgery stomach could. This limits the amount of food you can consume. Your surgeon connects your new stomach to the upper part of the small intestine so that food can pass directly into your small intestine.

Gastric bypass surgery changes how your intestine absorbs nutrients. Instead of following its usual path, food bypasses a portion of the stomach and small bowel. This procedure creates hormonal changes that help with your weight loss and controlling your diabetes. You must take dietary supplements that your surgeon prescribes in order to avoid long-term deficiencies of vitamin B12, folate, iron and other vitamins and minerals that will affect your health.

Patients who had gastric bypass surgery lose approximately 30 percent of their total body weight over one to two years.