Gastric Bypass is a surgical weight loss procedure. This procedure is performed under general anesthesia in an operating room. Before undergoing the operation, the patient should have a fasting period of about 8 hours. A day before surgery, blood thinners are administered in adequate doses to prevent blood clotting. A urinary catheter is placed after the patient is anesthetized by the anesthesiologist. Gastric bypass surgery is performed with the laparoscopic method, known as a closed method. A laparoscope, a thin tube equipped with a tiny video camera (30 cm in length) is inserted through several incisions (5 to 10-mm in lengths) made on the skin. Long rods with a structure thinner than a pen are inserted into the abdomen. With the help of these rods and staples, a gastric pouch (3 cm in width and 3 cm in length) is formed in the stomach part adjacent to the esophagus. A point on the small bowel about 200 cm distal to the ligament of Treitz is anastomosed to the gastric pouch (i.e. up to 200cm of the upper part of the intestine is bypassed), with intent to reduce the digestion. The anesthesiologist performs a test called ‘leak test’ by inflating the stomach with blue-stained liquid, to see the firmness of the staple line created between the new stomach pouch and the intestine. This test is also performed with air and sometimes with both air and liquid. The operation is ended without removing any part of the stomach, by suturing the incision sites on the skin.

What is the short description of Gastric Bypass?

Gastric Bypass surgery is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures in the world. This surgical procedure is performed to enable people to lose weight with two mechanisms. In a Gastric Bypass surgery, a small stomach volume is created. In addition, the resultant small stomach is anastomosed to the small intestine. The foods coming from the mouth bypass the big stomach and directly pass through the small intestine. This procedure is called Gastric Bypass.

Is gastric bypass a suitable surgical procedure for me?

Gastric Bypass is a surgical procedure suitable for patients with a body mass index of over 35, diabetic patients, and patients who mainly consume sugary foods, alcohol, high calorie snacks and coke.

How long will I stay in the hospital after the gastric bypass surgery?

After surgery, patients usually stay in hospital for a period of 2 to 3 days. After consuming water and liquid foods during this period, you can be discharged if your doctor deems it appropriate.

What will I experience after gastric bypass?

After surgery, you can easily feel full with small amounts of food intake. This fullness will turn into satiety and loss of appetite over time. The needed vitamin and mineral supplements will be taken in accordance with the instructions of the surgeons and dietitians. In this way, you can lose weight very comfortably, without vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

How much weight will I be able lose after the gastric bypass surgery?

You can lose 50-100% of your excess weight within 1 to 2 years after a Gastric Bypass surgery. Your success in weight loss is proportional to your compliance with the post-operative diet and exercise program. After a Gastric Bypass surgery, for example a patient who was 124 kg while entering into the operating room, can lose approximately 50 to 60 kg.