Gastric Bypass Surgery

The Roux en Y Gastric Bypass Requirements

Being overweight is definitely not easy. Yet thanks to modern medicine there are weight loss surgery options that are available to help those who are obese and cannot lose weight through dieting. All bariatric procedures require that certain stipulations be met and there are several different operations to choose from. Some are very invasive and require long recovery times, such as with the traditional Roux en Y gastric bypass operation. Others, like the laparoscopic Lap Band procedure are not quite as difficult to recover from.

The first laparoscopic Roux en Y procedure was performed in 1993 and was the “next generation” in weight loss surgery. The procedure only requires a few incisions in the abdomen and the incisions for the new Roux en Y gastric bypass operation are considerably less invasive than the method used previously. Prior to the laparoscopic technique a large incision in the abdomen was required that resulted in a longer hospital stay and a longer recovery time.

Before you can have the laparoscopic Roux en Y procedure you must first meet some basic requirements. The first is that you have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of forty or higher. If you have medical conditions that necessitate weight loss surgery, then you can have a BMI of thirty-five. You must also meet with a physician, therapist and a nutritionist to determine if you have the fortitude to withstand the rigorous lifestyle changes that must be met in order to be successful with this type of weight loss method.

These changes mean that you will no longer be able to eat the way you did previously. For the first few weeks you will be on an all liquid diet, with protein shakes. Later, you can progress to certain low diet soft foods. But there will still be foods that you will be unable to eat. Some post-operative patients find that they cannot handle certain red meats or dairy products on the gastric bypass diet. How well you tolerate the diet will be determined after the procedure and through trial and error.

There were one hundred and forty thousand operations performed for weight loss in 2005. The number continues to climb as more overweight individuals turn to surgery to help them get rid of excess pounds. If you find that you are not losing the excess weight no matter how much you diet and exercise, then it may be time to weigh your weight loss surgery options. The surgery alone does not mean success but with the right diet and exercise programs the Roux en Y gastric bypass operation may be the added boost that you need in order to lose weight. It is time to take matters into your own hands and get the help that you need in order to become healthier.