How Does Gastric Bypass Surgery Work?

More and more people are becoming aware of gastric bypass surgical operation, as a method of dealing with problematic obesity levels. As a result, there's more information available about the subject and there are more stories publicly available about people who have undergone the procedure, for various reasons. It's important to always keep in mind that gastric bypass surgery is a major surgical operation. You will need to discuss it thoroughly with your doctor before you even begin to seriously consider whether to undergo the procedure.

Again, the surgery involved here is rather serious. It will involve making physical changes to your stomach as well as your small intestine. Consider what will happen to your stomach. During the operation, the surgeon will take your existing stomach and split it into two parts. Staples will be used in order to perform this change. Once the surgeon is through, your stomach will end up with an upper area and a lower area. The upper area will be smaller compared to the one below it. This upper area is where the food that you eat will end up. By doing this, the surgeon has drastically reduced the amount of food volume that your stomach can physically handle.

That's not the end of it though. The second part of the operation is where the bypass part comes in. The surgeon will take your small intestine and detach it from where it usually connects to your stomach. She will instead create an opening in the new upper area of your stomach and connect the small intestine there. This results in a drastic change to the way your digestion system works. Now, food will enter the upper part of your stomach and from there will proceed directly into your small intestine. The lower section of your stomach becomes effectively bypassed.

One way all this surgery is done is for the doctor to make a large incision in your belly. This allows her access to all the needed areas of your stomach, intestine and the surrounding area. However, the large cut and the accompanying strain on your internal organs will tend to result in a longer period of recovery. Another way for the surgery to take place is through the use of specially designed tools, equipment and a camera which is introduced into your body using a number of smaller slices to your belly. This laparoscopic surgery will tend to reduce the recovery time, and you will have to deal with smaller incisions and scars.