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Top 10 Gastric Bypass FAQs

Gastric bypass surgery is a major weight-loss surgery that can help people with severe obesity lose weight and improve their overall health.

Gastric bypass surgery is a major weight-loss surgery that can help people with severe obesity lose weight and improve their overall health. Are you considering this surgical option?

Here are the top 10 FAQs about gastric bypass.

Q1: What does a gastric bypass surgeon do?

A: A gastric bypass surgeon creates a (smaller) gastric pouch from the stomach and links it to the small intestine. A large portion of the digestive tract is bypassed in the process. 

This is done through either an open or laparoscopic procedure. As a result, patients eat less and feel fuller for longer periods of time.

Q2: Am I a good candidate for gastric bypass surgery?

A: Based on your age, medical history, psychiatric history, eating habits, level of daily physical activity, and general health, an experienced bariatric surgeon can best determine whether you qualify for gastric bypass surgery. 

The basic criteria for gastric bypass are:

  • BMI (Body Mass Index) >= 40 or body weight > (ideal weight + 45 kg)
  • Presence of obesity-related medical conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, heart disease, or gallbladder disease
  • A history of weight-loss efforts with an exercise program and diet regimen

Q3: How much weight can I lose after gastric bypass?

A: Patients can expect to lose 50-70% of their excess weight in the first 1-2 years. Excess weight is calculated by subtracting your target weight from your current weight.

Surgeons advise patients to follow their diet instructions and take supplements as needed, depending on their individual health needs.

Q4: Are there any risks of postoperative complications with gastric bypass?

A: Yes, all major surgical procedures carry some risks.  Gastric bypass is no different. Some common postoperative risks of gastric bypass include:

  • Vomiting & nausea
  • Gallstones
  • Nutritional deficiencies (such as anemia and osteoporosis)

Bile salt intake can prevent gallstones, and vitamin and mineral intake can prevent nutritional deficiencies.

Rare complications of gastric bypass include:

  • Staples
  • Ulcers in the small intestine
  • Blood clots
  • Gallbladder inflammation

About 10-15% of patients may require follow-up or revisional surgery to fix complications, with abdominal hernia being the most common.

Q5: How soon can I return to work after gastric bypass surgery?

A: You can typically leave the hospital in 1-3 days after surgery. You should be able to return to your normal daily activities in about 2-3 weeks.

Most people return to work in 3-6 weeks, but this may vary depending on your overall health,  nature of your job, and how you are recovering.

Q6: Why do thousands of people choose gastric bypass surgery every year?

A: Gastric bypass is one of the safest and most effective weight loss surgeries. It has been extensively studied and practiced around the world.

Gastric bypass became more popular with the advent of minimally-invasive laparoscopic procedures in the 1990s.

Q7. What are the main health benefits of gastric bypass surgery?

  1. Gastric bypass surgery does more than just help you lose weight. It also improves your overall health by reducing your risk of various diseases, including:
  • Cardiovascular diseases
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
  • Infertility
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Sleep apnea
  • Cancer

Q8. How much does gastric bypass cost?

  1. Gastric bypass surgery costs about $25,000 on average in the United States.

But, the cost is significantly less in medical tourism hubs such as Tijuana, Mexico, where reputable bariatric clinics like Renew Bariatrics offer the surgery for upwards of $6,000.

In the long run (about 3-5 years), the savings accrued from not having to spend on healthcare due to other obesity-related issues can offset the cost of the surgery.

Q9. Why do people choose Tijuana, Mexico for gastric bypass?

The quality of care at Tijuana bariatric clinics is comparable to that in the United States and Canada, and there are board-certified, experienced surgeons available.

Plus, medical tourism operators provide affordable, end-to-end services that often include surgery, transportation, hotel stay, and more.

Q10. Can gastric bypass surgery cure diabetes?

  1. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass can send 80-90% of people with type 2 diabetes into remission.

However, this does not necessarily mean that the diabetes has been cured. Instead, gastric bypass helps your body control the diabetes to the point that you no longer need medication to keep your blood sugar level steady.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gastric Bypass in Tijuana Pros and Cons

Obesity affects over one billion people worldwide.

Obesity affects over one billion people worldwide.

Many of them struggle with mild to serious obesity-related conditions, such as hypertension, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, and stroke.

While lifestyle changes like diet and exercise can help some people lose weight, the results are often not enough or long-lasting.

This is why bariatric surgeries such as gastric bypass and gastric sleeve have grown in popularity in the last two decades.

These procedures can produce significant and lasting weight loss, as well as improve overall health.

Once you’ve chosen a medical tourism destination like Tijuana, Mexico where you can get gastric bypass at a lower cost, the next step is to consider the pros and cons of the procedure.

If you’re wondering whether gastric bypass is the best surgical weight-loss option for you, you’re in the right place.

Tijuana Gastric Bypass Pros – The Bright Side

1. Fast & Substantial Weight Loss

Rapid weight loss is among the biggest pros of gastric bypass – one of the most effective weight loss procedures available.

The surgery induces rapid initial weight loss and helps you lose 60-70% of excess weight within the first one or two years.

When considering the pros and cons of gastric bypass in Tijuana, sustainable weight loss is the biggest motivator for people to choose this surgical weight-loss option.

2. Food Intake

People weighing Tijuana gastric bypass pros & cons are often pleasantly surprised to learn that post-RYGB, patients’ bodies encourage healthier food choices.

Patients experience reduced appetite and increased satiety because their stomach is smaller and their digestive tract shorter. Hormonal changes can also reduce appetite and cravings.

So, they feel fuller for longer and have fewer cravings for sweets, fats, and carbs.

Patients may also have less tolerance for dairy & meat.

3. Overall Health

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass can resolve or improve type 2 diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, hypertension, high cholesterol, and other obesity-related conditions.

Additional health benefits of this procedure include alleviation of pregnancy complications, infertility, hyperlipidemia, gallbladder disease, high blood pressure, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and metabolic syndrome.

4. Financial Benefits

The upfront cost of gastric bypass surgery may seem high, but research suggests that obesity alone can cost an individual more than $1,861 per year in medical expenses.

Therefore, the surgery costs can be effectively recovered from savings resulting from reduced healthcare costs over two to three years.

Tijuana Gastric Bypass Cons – The Not-So-Bright Side

1. Pain medication

Patients who undergo gastric bypass cannot take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin for pain relief for a few weeks after surgery.

2. Nutrient Deficiency

Some patients may be at risk of mineral and vitamin deficiency after gastric bypass surgery.

However, this problem occurs only if patients do not follow their doctor’s instructions and fail to maintain their routine mineral & vitamin intake.

3. Risk of Complications

The surgery may cause short-term complications, such as vomiting, infection, blood clots, bleeding, and gastrointestinal leakage.

Long-term complications in some patients may include bowel obstruction, hernia, gallstones, and stomach perforation.

Although most people are concerned about this particular con of gastric bypass in Tijuana, they should know that both short- and long-term risks can be significantly reduced by relying on an experienced, board-certified bariatric surgeon.

4. Limited Dietary Choices Post-Surgery

Gastric bypass will effectively limit the types of food you can eat for the rest of your life.

For some people, this may seem like a serious challenge, but when considering the way obesity affects all aspects of your life, it is not such a big deal.

Tijuana Gastric Bypass Pros & Cons – What Should You Do? 

No matter which bariatric surgery you choose, there will always be some trade-off.

However, when you compare the pros and cons of gastric bypass in Tijuana, it is clear that the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.

If you want to know if you qualify for gastric bypass surgery, consult an experienced surgeon in Tijuana, Mexico today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

History of Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric bypass surgery is one of the most effective weight-loss surgeries available today.

Gastric bypass surgery is one of the most effective weight-loss surgeries available today.

It has helped millions of obese patients lose weight and improve their health.

Over the years, the procedure has become more refined and less invasive, thanks to the work of dedicated surgeons and researchers.

But how did it come to be?

Let’s take a look at the history of gastric bypass surgery, from its early development in the 1960s to the laparoscopic procedures performed today.

1960s: The Silver Lining for Obese Patients Worldwide

Gastric bypass surgery was first developed by Drs. Mason and Ito in the late 1960s.

It was originally focused on partial gastrectomy (stomach removal) for the treatment of peptic ulcer disease in the early 1960s.

After studying the procedure in animal surgery research labs, the surgeons were confident that it was safe to perform on human patients suffering from duodenal ulcers.

However, researchers observed that patients who underwent the procedure in 1965 were not helped with their ulcers but did lose significant weight.

For people struggling with obesity and numerous associated conditions, this was nothing short of a silver lining.

By 1966, Dr. Mason began performing gastric bypass surgery on morbidly obese patients. At that time, intestinal bypass was the preferred surgical option for the treatment of morbid obesity.

The open gastric bypass procedure carried a significant risk of complications, such as incisional hernia.

Over the next two decades, surgeons and researchers developed laparoscopic techniques to reduce these risks.

1970s: Development of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

Dr. Mason’s gastric bypass surgery involved creating a smaller meal pouch.

This setup, known as the Mason loop, developed by Dr. Mason and his team, bypassed the remainder of the stomach, duodenum, and a short segment of the bowel to encourage rapid weight loss.

Subsequent studies revealed that gastric bypass markedly reduced the secretion of the hunger hormone ghrelin and was effective for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Many of the early patients who opted for gastric bypass struggled with bilious vomiting.

In 1977, Dr. Ward Griffen and his team modified the Mason loop to the Roux-en-Y loop.

This is why gastric bypass is commonly referred to as Roux-en-Y surgery today.

Early 1990s: The Advent of Laparoscopic RYGB

In 1994, the first laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) was performed on five patients by Drs. Wittgrove and Clark.

The results were soon published, along with details of the technique and instrumentation used for the procedure.

A much larger trial was reported seven years later, in 2001, by Dr Ninh T. Nguyen and his team.

Long-term data over the years indicated that the laparoscopic approach to gastric bypass surgery helped reduce hospital-stay, and the risk of complications such as blood loss during surgery, postoperative pain, and infections.

Surgeons around the world agreed that laparoscopic RYGB was much more challenging and complex but considerably safer and more cost-effective than its predecessor, open gastric bypass surgery.

The availability of a minimally-invasive bariatric surgery for fast & durable weight loss led to the widespread popularity of this surgical option among obese patients.

In the next ten years, over 250,000 people in the United States were opting for laparoscopic gastric bypass each year.

Today, about 10,000 to 20,000 international patients undergo gastric bypass annually in Tijuana, Mexico alone.

Currently, nine out of 10 gastric bypass surgeries performed anywhere in the world are done laparoscopically.

Late 1990s: Mini Gastric Bypass (MGB)

Since laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass was technically more challenging than open gastric bypass and posed some risk of leakage, Robert Rutledge developed mini gastric bypass (MGB) as an alternative in 1997.

Rutledge published his findings based on his work with thousands of patients. The new technique gained acceptance among several surgeons over the next few years.

 

 

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