Gastric bypass surgery, also called Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, is a type of weight-loss surgery. It’s typically used for people who have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more.
The surgery works by making your stomach smaller and allowing food to bypass part of your small intestine. This reduces the amount of calories and nutrients your body absorbs, leading to weight loss.
Gastric bypass surgery is usually done laparoscopically, which means using several small incisions rather than one large incision. Recovery time is shorter with laparoscopic surgery and there’s less risk of infection.
The surgical team will work with you before surgery to help you lose weight and improve your health. They’ll also develop a plan to help you maintain your weight loss after surgery.
Gastric bypass isn’t for everyone. You may not be a good candidate if you have certain medical conditions, such as:
Uncontrolled diabetes mellitusType 2 diabetes that can’t be controlled with diet and exercise aloneSevere heart or lung diseaseAn active infectionA bleeding disorderCertain types of cancerActive substance abuse