Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

What Can Allure Patients Expect?

We offer a comprehensive weight loss surgery package that ensures you’re well taken care of from start to finish. We work with you before your laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery to make sure you’re able to have the operation and that you have all of the necessary information to make an educated decision. After your surgical treatment has been completed, we provide a tailored aftercare package that includes care from a dietetic and nursing team.

Pre-Op

You will be assessed to determine if you are eligible for the operation, which may include blood tests, x-rays, and scans, depending on your medical history. Our CQC Registered providers will give you an in-depth explanation of the surgery and the long-term outlook.

Before the gastric bypass surgery, you must avoid eating for several hours, but can continue to drink clear liquids until two hours before the surgery. You may need to stop medication in preparation for your weight loss surgery, but our consultant will advise you of this. You may also need to lose weight or follow the liver shrinkage diet in order to make room to access the stomach more easily during the surgery.

During Your Surgery

The gastric bypass is carried out under general anaesthetic. Typically, we will perform a laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery, but this isn’t suitable for everyone. Laparoscopic procedures happen through a small keyhole and are therefore not as invasive as typical open bariatric surgery.

During the operation, your consultant surgeon will make small incisions in your abdomen to pass through a tiny camera and instruments. They will then inflate your abdomen with carbon dioxide gas. Next, they will use surgical staples to make a stomach pouch, about the size of a walnut, and trim your small intestine, attaching the lower part of it directly to your new pouch.

The remainder of the stomach and upper small intestine are then joined to the lower part so that digestive enzymes from your stomach can drain out. Your surgeon will then close the incisions and suture to ensure that they heal well.

After Surgery Recovery

For the first two weeks after your bariatric surgery, you will need to wear compression stockings to prevent blood clots. In order to keep the dressings clean and dry, it’s necessary to not take a bath for one week, however showers are allowed.

After six weeks you should be back to normal activities. You will follow a controlled diet given by your nutritionist. The rapid weight loss will likely mean you experience several symptoms: aches, tiredness, dry skin, feeling cold, thinning hair, and fluctuations in mood. After three to six months, you should be experiencing less of these symptoms.

You should keep active after your operation to reduce the risk of blood clots forming, however, you should try to avoid any abdominal or heavy exercises for at least six weeks.

Aftercare/Ongoing Treatment

Your recovery care will include pain relief, a review of your medications, a carefully established diet, and an exercise plan. You will also be provided discharge medication that may include vitamin and mineral supplements like: Vitamin D, Calcium, multivitamin A-Z with iron, Vitamin B12, and Lansoprazole.

You’ll need to attend follow up appointments for the rest of your life and will require regular blood tests for the first two years after bariatric surgery. After time, these will become annual checks to ensure the gastric bypass is working properly.

Lifestyle Changes

In order to have sustained weight loss, you will need to make long term lifestyle changes. Bariatric surgery does not change cravings or prevent you from eating unhealthy foods. Immediately after your surgery, our aftercare team will work with you to build a new diet in order to prevent weight regain.

As you begin losing weight, your body will require additional protein to maintain muscle mass and have a healthy metabolism, which will require you to increase the protein in your diet.

Avoid drinking at the same time as eating to prevent vomiting and dumping syndrome. This is an uncomfortable set of symptoms caused by the food in your stomach being too sugary, or quickly washed into the small intestine through the join. Ensure that you’re drinking plenty of water throughout the day to prevent constipation.

If you’re planning to travel by plane within a few months of surgery, you should speak to your doctor first. Some complications may occur, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Potential Side Effects

After such severe weight loss, you may begin to have thinning hair or you lose it. This is a temporary side effect that is likely to improve in the first few months. In order to avoid having dry skin after your gastric bypass surgery, drink plenty of fluids, take vitamin and mineral supplements, and apply a good moisturiser. You may also find that you experience body aches, tiredness, flu-like symptoms, feeling cold, and fluctuations in your mood as the body adjusts to the rapid weight loss.