What it is The Roux en-Y gastric bypass(RGP) is a surgical procedure which reduces the size of your stomach. This means that you can’t eat as much and should therefore lose lots of weight.
What it involves Surgery is usually done by laproscopy. This only requires several small cuts under a general anaesthetic, and you would normally leave hospital within 24 hours and be back at work in 1 - 2 weeks. Open surgery means a longer recovery time of 6-8 weeks. As well as possible complications from the procedure itself - such as excessive bleeding or infection, this also carries the risks associated with all major surgical procedures.
Questions to ask Can anyone have this done? No. You must have a body mass index of over 30, and be between 18 and 55 years old. There are also psychological restrictions to discuss with your doctor.
How quickly will I lose weight? You should lose 1-3lbs a week, leading to a loss of as much as 80% of your body weight over two years.
Will I put the weight back on? No, not if you’re sensible! It is possible to stretch the reduced stomach by overeating, but this would be very uncomfortable.
Things to look out for Occasionally, even when laproscopy is intended, complications may require an instant decision for open surgery.
Consultants will want to see evidence that you have been trying to lose weight.
Because some of the small bowel has been used to form the bypass you won’t be able to absorb nutrients in the normal way, so you’ll need to take vitamin supplements.
Does it hurt Yes, but the extent of discomfort depends on whether you have open or closed surgery.
