Gastric Bypass Surgery
Being overweight can have a negative impact on overall health and mental well-being. There are many non-surgical and surgical treatments for obesity. When the effects of non-surgical methods are unsatisfactory, bariatric surgery can be an effective solution, in fact, one of the most frequently preferred treatments in the instant and effective treatments for obesity is gastric bypass.
Gastric bypass is often recommended in patients with high body weight at increased risk for cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, stroke, kidney failure and other health complications. This procedure is also suitable for patients who may already have these health complications and high body weight poses only an additional risk of complications.
Studies have shown that after gastric bypass surgery, patients experience a significant improvement in metabolic parameters as well as overall health. This positive result was even observed in patients with a BMI below 35 kg/m² at baseline.
There have been significant changes in food production, which has led to an increase in the consumption of highly processed foods and products, leading to lasting health complications. For instance, studies show that in patients with Type 2 diabetes who had consumed processed foods, the levels of certain important hormones decreased. This included a decrease in incretins which are secreted in the end part of the small intestine. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) are the best known incretins and have a significant impact on blood sugar control, satiety and gastric emptying. Decreased levels of incterins in patients with high body weight leads to greater metabolic disturbances and contributes to weight gain.
A gastric by-pass procedure, consisting of the separation of the gastrointestinal and secretory tracts, can be effective in countering this on two levels: firstly, it reduces the amount of food consumed, and secondly, by restoring the normal secretion of incretins, it works at the metabolic level.
It has also been observed that, in patients with Type 2 diabetes for whom the duration of the disease did not exceed 10 years, metabolic parameters were nearly 100% aligned after the gastric bypass procedure and patients could function without antidiabetic treatment. This effect was observed for many years after the procedure. Although this index is lower in people with Type 2 diabetes for more than 10 years, this group also showed a significant reduction in the demand for antidiabetic drugs, improvement in metabolic parameters and a reduction in the risk of diabetes-related complications.
Gastric bypass surgery is recommended for patients aged 18 to 65 years of age. Indications and contraindications for this procedure are evaluated individually after conducting a detailed interview about the patient’s condition followed by a thorough assessment of laboratory tests and examination of medical imaging.
Gastric bypass is minimally invasive and is performed under general anesthesia using a laparoscopic technique resulting in only four to five incisions of approximately one centimeter in size. During surgery, patients do not feel pain or discomfort. The duration of the procedure is typically two to three hours.
After surgery, patients recover in the hospital for three to six days. Patients can typically return to their daily life after two to three weeks, following a consultation with the doctor.
It is important to note that gastric bypass surgery causes a change in the digestive system, which often requires modification in daily lifestyle and eating habits. Dietary recommendations should be determined individually by experts working with patients who have undergone bariatric surgery. Detailed information on this subject can be found on our website in the Nutrition after bariatric surgery tab.
For more detailed information on gastric bypass and bariatric surgery, please contact Customer Service.
