Gastric Bypass (Roux-en-Y)

When other weight loss methods have failed, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, also know simply as gastric bypass, may be an option. Inspira offers minimally invasive gastric bypass surgery to help you reach your wellness goals.

What is Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery?

Gastric bypass surgery helps you lose weight by reducing the size of your upper stomach to the approximate size of an egg. This method allows you to lose weight more efficiently by restricting the amount of food you can consume, resulting in fewer calories absorbed by your body. In addition, those who lose weight with gastric bypass surgery can benefit from:

• Improved cardiovascular health
• Remission of type 2 diabetes
• Relief from depression
• Improved obstructive sleep apnea
• Relief from joint pain
• Improved fertility
• Reduced risk of cancer

Inspira uses a laparoscopic approach to gastric bypass surgery, resulting in shorter post-operative hospital stays, fewer complications, less pain and faster recovery than traditional surgery. And our weight management providers, dietitians and peer support groups ensure that you have a lifetime of support keeping the weight off.

How Does Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery Work?

During gastric bypass surgery, your surgeon will make a few small incisions to access your stomach using a laparoscope, a thin tool with a camera attached. The surgeon will then staple the top portion of the stomach to create a small, egg-sized pouch that can hold roughly one ounce of food—far less than the one quart an average adult stomach can hold.

Once the egg-sized pouch is created, the surgeon will connect the pouch to part of the small intestine called the Roux limb, forming a “Y” shape and allowing food to bypass the lower, larger pouch of the stomach. Bypassing most of the stomach reduces the amount of fat and calories your body absorbs from the food you consume.

What to Expect When You Have Gastric Bypass Surgery

In order to qualify for gastric bypass surgery, you must attend at least one information session and meet with a bariatric specialist to determine your eligibility. You may be a candidate if you:

• Have a body mass index (BMI) higher than 35 or higher than 30 paired with comorbid conditions
• Have failed to lose weight with diet and exercise alone
• Do not have untreated psychological conditions, such as addiction or depression
• Do not have a history of gastric ulcers, IBS or Crohn’s disease
• Do not have a significant history of smoking, use of steroids or NSAIDs, and use of lithium or more than two psychotropic medications

If you receive clearance from the multi-disciplinary bariatric team, your procedure will be scheduled. This minimally invasive procedure takes several hours to complete, and you may stay in the hospital for 2 to 5 days. After the procedure, your doctor, dietitian and support team will work with you to fine-tune your diet and exercise routine. Because gastric bypass affects calorie absorption, it can also reduce the absorption of essential vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients. Your physician may recommend incorporating daily multivitamins and other supplements into your diet.