San Antonio Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric Bypass (roux-en-y-gastric bypass)

Gastric Bypass is considered to be the gold standard in weight loss surgery and with BMI of Texas, you can easily undergo gastric bypass in Texas. First performed in 1968, the operation has evolved, but has stood the test of time. We now have over 25 years of data on the tremendous success of this operation.

The operation is done in 2 parts. The first part involves creating a very small new stomach (about an ounce). It is called the “pouch”. The pouch is the only part of your stomach that will ever “see” food again.

The second part of the procedure is the bypass. This is done by re-routing the intestines to carry the food away from the pouch. There is a second connection that is made to allow the digestive juices coming from the remaining stomach, liver and pancreas to meet with the food downstream.

This operation works by two different mechanisms: restriction and malabsorption. The primary way the operation works is by making you eat less. You will feel full after eating only a few bites of food!

The second way the operation works is malabsorption. Because the digestive juices don’t get to mix with the food until a little further downstream, less of the calories are actually absorbed.

Our San Antonio gastric bypass surgery clinic has been very helpful for several of our patients. Please visit our Media Center to hear what they have to say, as well as view a real gastric bypass procedure!

Gastric bypass surgery also causes a phenomenon known as the dumping syndrome. This is brought on by consuming refined sugars or “sweets”. Dumping syndrome is a very uncomfortable feeling usually characterized by weakness, nausea, sweating and “just feeling really bad”. This is a great side effect that helps many folks deal with a major food trigger. Gastric bypass surgery is the ONLY operation that causes the dumping syndrome.

Because of the re-routing of the intestines, the body may not get enough vitamins and minerals. It is important to take a multi-vitamin, calcium and vitamin B12 supplements for the rest of your life.

What to Expect post-op with Gastric Bypass Surgery
With a bypass, you should expect to stay in the hospital 2 to 3 nights. Your immediate goals in the hospital after surgery are to walk frequently and to do breathing exercises using a special tool called an incentive spirometer. In addition, we will give you some blood-thinning medication to prevent blood clots. You will receive this medication every 12 hours while you are in the hospital, and occasionally for a few weeks after discharge. Patients are usually allowed to begin to sip on liquids 6-8 hours after surgery.

DAY 2 Goal: Transition completely from IV fluids and medications to oral intake and liquid pain medicine. We use the On-Q pain buster system which delivers long-acting lidocaine into the incision sites so the pain will be very well controlled.

Day 3: Most patients are ready to go home today. Don’t feel bad if you are not quite ready though. We realize that everyone is different, and we want you to be completely comfortable before we let you go home.

If you would like to learn more about San Antonio gastric bypass surgery with renowned bariatric surgeons at BMI of Texas, please call us to learn about your options.