How has the Gastric Bypass procedure been done?
This procedure is mostly done in a laparoscopic way i.e. by insertion of a lighted scope with a camera through the incision at the upper portion of the abdomen. Through another incision, other surgical instruments can be inserted. In this way, the procedure has been performed in a conservative approach or in a minimally invasive way. This procedure will ensure quicker recovery and less hospital stay for the patient.
Gastric bypass surgery is a two-step procedure and hence it will take more operative time in comparison to sleeve gastrectomy, another kind of bariatric surgery. If you want to know more about the procedure thoroughly, you can go through our previous article.
- In Gastric Bypass surgery, a small pouch has been created by removing or bypassing a portion of the stomach and it is attached to the first portion of the small intestine.
- The first part of the small intestine is cut into the Y-shaped pattern which along with the stomach pouch creates a bypass for all the foods and liquid you take. Since this area is bypassed, the absorption of nutrition is compromised in the body. Hence it causes weight loss.
Will this Gastric Surgery reduce my appetite?
As the portion of the stomach which is removed in the surgical procedure is responsible for producing the ‘hunger hormone’ or Ghrelin, it will definitely reduce your overall appetite. Thus it will be helpful in weight loss.
What is Extensive Gastric Bypass surgery?
This surgical procedure will be more complicated than conventional gastric bypass surgery.
- Here your surgeon will remove the lower part of your stomach and a pouch-shaped stomach will be directly attached to the last part of the small intestine i.e by skipping the first two-part of the small intestine.
- The recovery time will be more and the patient will have to spend two nights in the hospital recovery room after the procedure.
- In this surgery, the patient might face a little bit more complications after the surgery.
How much time do you have to stay after the surgery is being done?
You might have to stay in hospital for 2-3 days after the surgical procedure.
How to prepare for a gastric bypass surgical procedure?
- You have to start doing physical activities and maintain a proper diet before you will go for the surgical procedure.
- If you are a vigorous smoker, you should stop taking tobacco in any form before undergoing surgery.
- You should plan for the recovery and appoint any help at home for household chores if you need any.
- You have to limit your eating, drinking and watch your diet a few days before the surgery.
What are the precautions you should take before undergoing gastric bypass surgery?
- Consult all your queries related to the procedure with your surgeons and clear your doubts.
- Make sure you inform all your past and present medical history to your doctor.
- If you are prone to some allergic reactions or you are taking any herbal supplements, you need to mention that too.
- If you are under any medications especially on blood thinners like aspirin or some NSAIDs like ibuprofen, naproxen you should inform your doc and stop or adjust the dosage of those medications before surgery according to your physician’s advice.
- If you are anemic, you should start having iron supplements before you go for surgery.
- Women on OCP(Oral contraceptive pill) should stop taking pills at least before one month of surgery.
After getting confirmation from the lab reports and medical examination that you are undergoing gastric bypass surgery, your surgeon or medical personnel will guide you and your family about the Dos and Don’ts before surgery.
What are the tests you should go for before undergoing a gastric bypass surgical procedure?
Before this cosmetic surgery, your surgeon will evaluate all the following points
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Lipid profile(cholesterol test)
- General body weight
- Urine test
- MRI scan
- X-ray
- Echocardiography
What is the diet you should follow after the surgery?
You can’t follow your previous diet chart right after the surgery and you have to limit the amount of food you are taking after the surgery. You have to maintain the postoperative diet chart provided by your surgeon and stick to it until full recovery.
- On the very first day right after the surgery, you can take clear liquids.
- After the surgery for 4 weeks, you have to take pureed foods along with a protein shake.
- You can start having soft solid food after the 1st month of surgery and during this time you should chew every food properly so that it can easily get digested.
- Always avoid high-calorie soda and high carbs food products.
- Don’t drink while eating as it may tend to overfill your stomach easily and it can get stretched.
- You can have any liquid or water half an hour after finishing your meal.
- Always take vitamins, minerals, and supplements prescribed by your doctor to avoid any kind of nutrition deficiency during this time.
What are the risks you might face after undergoing gastric bypass surgery?
- Pouch stretching- your pouch-shaped stomach can get bigger over time and it can come back to its original size after a few years.
- Nutrition deficiency
- Stomal stenosis- a narrower form of a structure at the junction of the stomach and small intestine which can cause less appetite. To resume your appetite, your surgeon needs to dilate the narrowed area.
- Leakage of the stomach along the staple lines.
What are various risk factors you might face right after the surgery?
During the recovery period, one should follow all the instructions your doc has advised.
Otherwise, you might land up having
- Infections
- Reaction to anesthesia
- Bleeding
- Blood clot formation
- Leaking through the stomach
- Constipation
- Nausea, vomiting
- Breathing problems
What are the other long-term complications you might face after surgery?
- Hernia
- Hypoglycemia or reduced blood sugar
- Gastrointestinal reflux
- Malnutrition
- Vomiting
- Gastrointestinal obstruction
- Recurrent vomiting
- Malnutrition
- Gastric perforation
- ulceration
though these kinds of complications are rare these days due to advanced technology and modified-conservative surgical procedures.
When can you start having your regular meal?
Two to three months after the surgery, you can start having your regular meal but in a limited quantity.
What are the FAQs you should ask your surgeon about after gastric bypass surgery?
- What are all the medications you have to take?
- Will there be any follow-up visits?
- When can you resume your work and regular lifestyle?
- When can you start doing exercises?
- How to do the postoperative wound management and when the stitches will be removed?
Can you feel any changes after undergoing gastric bypass surgery?
You might experience rapid weight loss around 3 -6 months after surgery. Due to rapid weight loss, you might feel
- Tiredness
- Bodyache
- Flu-like symptoms
- Cold
- Mood swings
- Hair thinning
- Nausea vomiting
- Fainting
- Sweating
- Diarrhea
- Dumping syndrome- as the food moves quickly from the stomach to the small intestine due to the gastric bypass performed.
- Gallstone formation can happen if you lose weight quickly. Your surgeon might prescribe you some medication for dissolving them.
What is the diet you should follow after the surgery?
You can’t follow your previous diet chart right after the surgery and you have to limit the amount of food you are taking after the surgery. You have to maintain the postoperative diet chart provided by your surgeon and stick to it until full recovery.
- On the very first day right after the surgery, you can take clear liquids.
- After the surgery for 4 weeks, you have to take pureed foods along with a protein shake.
- You can start having soft solid food after the 1st month of surgery and during this time you should chew every food properly so that it can easily get digested.
- Always avoid high-calorie soda and high carbs food products.
- Don’t drink while eating as it may tend to overfill your stomach easily and it can get stretched.
- You can have any liquid or water half an hour after finishing your meal.
- Always take vitamins, minerals, and supplements prescribed by your doctor to avoid any kind of nutrition deficiency during this time.
What are the instructions you need to follow after the gastric bypass surgery?
- You should hydrated all the time. Increase water and fluid intake specifically just after the surgery.
- Take calcium and phosphorus enriched food like dairy products.
- Reduce eating outside as can make yourself prone to infection
- Be regular with your medications.
- Keep your blood pressure, diabetes always in check.
- Avoid having carbonated drinks at least for 7 days after the surgery.
- You have to attend all the follow-up visits to your doctor’s office.
- You should undergo lab testing and various bloodwork and after the evaluation of those test results, your doc will allow you to resume your daily lifestyle.
What are the instructions you need to follow a day before surgery?
- Do not take any food or liquid 6 hours before surgery
- Avoid heavy meals for at least one day before the surgery, try to keep your bowel empty before undergoing surgery. This will reduce nausea before surgery.
- You should scrub with an antibiotic soap the night before and once in the morning before the surgery.
How to choose doctors if you want to go for a gastric bypass surgical procedure?
- You can go through the reviews of those who have already been through gastric bypass surgical procedures in multiple medical forums and if you are worried about some negative review, you can always consult with your doctor about the matter.
- Look for the experience of general surgeons and positive patient stories.
- You can also look for the success rate of gastric bypass surgery done by your surgeon.
Who are the best doctors for performing gastric bypass surgery?
Well-experienced and board-certified general laparoscopic surgeons and gastroenterologists along with endocrinologists can perform the procedure. And make sure to check the accreditation of the hospital from where you are getting your gastric bypass surgery done.
Why should you go for gastric bypass surgery in India?
Along with the high-quality lifestyle here in India, it is the best place to get well-experienced and skilled surgeons who are comfortable with the best and latest available technology. You will get personalized care from trained medical personnel. Hence it ensures shorter hospital stays and quicker recovery.
Any botched-up cases of gastric bypass surgery in India?
To date no such cases have been reported as here in India, surgeons are way more skilled and experienced. But to avoid these kinds of cases, you should choose your surgeon carefully.
Do you feel that the cost is way out of your budget? Are you looking for insurance?
In India, the majority of health insurance coverage is for serious ailments. That’s why the chances of getting coverage for the procedure are higher. But before that, you can find out if your policy covers the weight-loss surgical procedure . You can consult with your financial advisor related to the matter and explore the possibilities along with your surgeon. Though nowadays EMI facilities are available in some financial agencies. Even after that, you are feeling it’s difficult for you to avail yourself of the insurance, you can always ask your doctor to write one letter to your insurer describing the importance of this surgery on your health. If your insurance company provides coverage also, it will bear a partial amount of its budget. So make sure you read the details and go for it.
Takeaway- the surgical outcome can be different for different persons but if you are willing to make any permanent changes in your body and want to lead a healthy lifestyle, you should always go for this procedure after having the consultation with your doc.
If you are still confused about the next step, you can always reach us .
We are always there to help you out.
