Gastric bypass surgery is performed for treating morbid obesity, a physical condition in which extra weight is accumulated in the form of fatty tissue. This leads to many health problems referred to as co-morbidities which may become serious and even life threatening if not treated in time.

In Gastric bypass surgery, the surgeons change the anatomy of your digestive system in a way that it significantly decreases the amount of food that you can eat, and your stomach feels full more quickly. This restricts the number of calories consumed by you which in turn results in weight loss.

Your body mass index (BMI) has to be 40 or higher if you want to have gastric bypass surgery (or BMI 35 if you have medical co-morbidities). Your doctor will suggest gastric bypass surgery for you only if you have been unable to lose weight with other treatments, and especially if the excessive weight poses a danger to your health or life. It is important to discuss all treatment options with your doctor before opting for this surgery as all surgeries involve some risk. The risks associated with gastric bypass surgery include development of ulcers in 5-15% cases, occurrence of hernia, narrowing of the connection between the newly formed smaller stomach and the small intestine, and deficiencies of vitamins and minerals such as iron and vitamin B12.

Some of the issues which are considered by the surgeons before performing a surgery are:
  • You have been suffering from obesity for the past five years
    or more.
  • You are over 18 years of age.
  • You do not have any psychiatric disorder or depression that has not been treated.
  • You do not have any problem related to alcohol.
The most popular type of gastric bypass surgery is Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in which the stomach size is decreased by using surgical staples to form a small pouch at the top of stomach. The surgeon then connects the smaller portion of the stomach to the middle part of small intestine (jejunum) directly, bypassing the remaining portion of stomach and upper part of small intestine (duodenum). The surgery can either be carried out through an open procedure by creating a large incision in the abdomen or through the laparoscopic technique.

It takes around 3-5 weeks for patients to return to their normal routine after a gastric bypass surgery. Many people who undergo gastric bypass surgery experience a quick weight loss initially, and this often continues for up to 12 months. Studies have shown that gastric bypass is effective in helping people lose weight and maintaining that weight loss. Some patients, however, may experience side effects such as dumping syndrome after surgery which occurs due to quick movement of food through the stomach and intestines.

If you are a resident of New York or the surrounding area and want to undergo gastric bypass in New York or gastric bypass surgery Staten Island, then your search for an experienced gastric bypass surgeon in New York ends at www.cornellweightlosssurgery.org. Browse through the website for further information on gastric bypass surgery and gastric bypass in New York.