Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Information

All gastric bypass surgery makes the stomach smaller and bypasses a portion of the small intestines. Out of all weight loss surgeries, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is the most popular.

With the stomach being reduced in size from Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, you will not be able to consume as much food and then with the bypass connection being so small the food will take longer to reach your small intestines making you feel full longer. The part of the intestines that is bypassed with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery is the portion that absorbs fats and calories. Since you will be reducing the amount of fat and calories while eating less you will be losing excess weight.

Before you had Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery the food you ate went through your stomach and into your small intestines, and then it goes on to the large intestines. Your stomach was larger and could hold more food, which allowed the small intestines to absorb even more fat and calories. With a smaller stomach this will not occur.

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery creates a small pouch in your stomach by stapling or with the use of a plastic band. From there this small pouch is connected to the middle part of your small intestine bypassing the remainder of your stomach and the portion of the small intestines called the duodenum.

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery can be performed with a large incision across your abdomen or with five smaller incisions in the case of Laparoscopic roux en y gastric bypass surgery.