Learning About Gastric Bypass Surgery: Before and After

In deciding to explore the possibility of undergoing gastric bypass surgery, you are already taking positive steps forward for your health. It is normal to face some apprehension, however, you can trust in the fact that team at the Perth Weight Loss and Surgery will only recommend this surgery, when they are absolutely certain that it is the best option for your health. The most powerful tool you have to ease any concern, is information. Therefore, take a look at the following, to learn more about gastric bypass surgery.

What is Gastric Bypass Surgery?

Aim of the Surgery

The aim of the gastric bypass surgery is to lessen the amount of food that you can eat, before you start to feel full and change the gut hormone regulating appetite. Therefore, after the surgery, your feelings of hunger will decrease. With smaller portion sizes keeping you satisfied, you will begin to lose weight.

How it works

A gastric bypass is a laparoscopic surgery, also known as a keyhole surgery. The surgery is performed through a series of small incisions in your abdomen. As the name suggests, the surgery changes the pathway of food in your digestive system. No part of your digestive system is removed. The surgeon will section a small part of your stomach, to create a small pouch. Effectively reducing the size of the stomach. The small pouch is then connected straight to the small intestine, allowing normal digestive processes to continue. The larger portion of your stomach and early small bowel no longer is afforded the chance to absorb calories that you may consume. However, the larger portion of the stomach is still intact, and still also attached to the small intestine, so that it can supply the needed fluids and acids for digestion. Therefore, food can still safely reach the large intestine and be excreted, as before the surgery.

If you are a visual person, sometimes the best way to understand this is through diagrams. Take a look at this video to better understand how the gastric bypass surgery works. This video is animated and contains no images of actual anatomy.

For more information on gastric bypass surgery in Perth, please see Perth Weight Loss and Surgery clinic’s website’s page on Gastric Bypass Surgery.

What are the Advantages of Gastric Bypass Surgery?

• This surgery is extremely common, and has been used by doctors for over 40 years. Therefore, there is concrete information and data showing that this surgery has positive results.
• At the Perth Weight Loss and Surgery, we see patients loose up to 80-90% of the excess body weight that they are holding. This means that they lose 80-90% of the weight that puts them over the weight level needed for a being considered a healthy body weight.
• The weight loss begins straight away, and often the patient will lose a large amount of weight in the first few months, as suggested Therefore, you will the advantages of your gastric bypass surgery almost straight away.
• Long term advantages of a gastric bypass surgery can include; lessening of the risk of a heart attack, lessening of symptoms of type 2 diabetes, lessening of symptoms of depression, improved fertility, better sleep, relief from joint pain, and an increased level of energy.

The Process of Gastric Bypass Surgery

Before Surgery

Pre Surgery Preparation

Your surgeon and dietitian will be sure to provide you with all the information that you need to prepare for your surgery. It will be an easy and straightforward process.

It is important to prepare your body for this change. Therefore, your surgeon may suggest that you undergo a liquid diet for two weeks before your surgery to reduce fatty liver burden. Also, your surgeon will ask you to fast for 6 hours before your surgery, as with most other medical procedures.

Surgery Day

There is no need for anxiety on the day of your surgery as this procedure is performed by Mr. Gounder on a regular basis with great results.

On the day of your gastric bypass surgery in Perth, you will be admitted to the hospital in the morning. The operation tends to take between 1-2 hours, depending on the patient and the specifics of the operation.

You will need to go under general anaesthesia. This means that you will have no memory of the surgery, or perhaps even the operating room. You may feel disorientated when you wake up from this anaesthesia, however the staff at the hospital will make sure that you feel safe, comfortable and supported. Your family member or friend can also be there to support you at this time.

After Surgery

After you have left the hospital usually the day after the surgery, it is incredibly important that you follow the instructions given to you by your surgeon, especially in regards to your eating habits. For the first two weeks after surgery, your surgeon will ask you to continue your liquid diet. In the third or fourth week after surgery, you can begin to introduce some pureed food options. In the fourth week onwards, your surgeon will usually suggest continuing on to normal yet soft foods.

Your clinician will follow up with you regularly after your surgery, so that any questions or concerns can be shared.

The most essential thing is to follow the direction given by your health care professionals in all things, take your time to rest, and you will begin losing weight without even really realising it.

 Recovery Time

It is important to note that gastric bypass surgery recovery time will differ slightly from person to person.

After your surgery, you will usually spend just 1 to 2 nights in hospital.

After this, you can go home and rest. It will take a few weeks for your body to adjust to the changes. However, it is suggested that you should be able to return to work, depending on your career, after one or two weeks. It is important that you do not push yourself in this time.

Within four to six weeks, you should be able to return to gentle exercise, and within 2 months, back to your normal self and normal routine.

To learn more about gastric bypass surgery, and determine if this is a viable path for you, please contact Perth Weight Loss and Surgery at this link or call 08 6155 8822.