Gastric bypass is a surgical procedure by which a surgeon will create a
small pouch at the top portion of the stomach with a plastic band or surgical
staples. Then this smaller stomach area is re-routed to the middle portion of
the small intestine. This is the most common procedure, known as Roux-en-Y
gastric bypass. What it does, ultimately, is allow food to bypass part of the
small intestine, therefore causing fewer calories to be absorbed into the body.
Fewer calories equals weight loss.
The incision is about 4 or 5 inches long, just as long as the surgeon's hand
in the normal procedure. Another option, though not widely used as yet, is the
laparoscopic approach, which uses much smaller instruments and a camera,
therefore resulting in a smaller scar and possibly less complications.
Generally, in either case, the scar is not significant compared with the
obesity itself, or with any of the follow-up procedures to eliminate excess
skin, such as a tummy tuck.
Depending on your size, you will need to lose at least 10 pounds right
before the surgery. For a person who is 400-pounds plus, this is usually about
30 pounds of pre-op weight loss.