The Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass is categorized as a metabolic procedure. It produces changes in the gut physiology which improves carbohydrate metabolism, as evidenced with dramatic improvement in a person’s diabetes after the operation. The stomach is cut and divided, thereby making a smaller stomach that limits the amount of food you eat before you feel full. The first part of the small intestine and stomach remnant are bypassed, so the food you eat does not see this part of the intestine.
The Bypass has been performed safely for more than five decades, and has proven itself to be a great procedure for maximizing health. Possible complications, which are less than 10%, include the chance of an intestinal leak, bleeding, obstruction, ulcer, and malabsorption.
Patients need to be on lifetime multivitamin supplements. Your doctor will monitor these vitamin and mineral levels on a regular basis to ensure your maximum health. Weight loss for this procedure is approximately 80% excess weight loss the first year, with most patients maintaining this level for the years to come.