Process

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery involves stapling the stomach to create a small pouch, which limits the amount of food you can eat.

Function

Gastric bypass surgery helps patients lose weight, which can treat or reduce the risk of weight-related conditions like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, high blood cholesterol, sleep apnea or gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Candidates

Candidates for gastric bypass surgery are severely obese and cannot lose weight through traditional means. Generally, gastric bypass surgery patients have a body mass index (BMI) of over 40, or a BMI over 35 along with a condition like heart disease, type 2 diabetes or sleep apnea.

Complications

Possible complications of gastric bypass surgery include eventual breakdown of the stomach pouch, gallstones, inflamed stomach lining, kidney stones and nutritional deficiencies like anemia and low calcium levels.

Cost

Gastric bypass surgery generally costs between $20,000 and $25,000. Insurance may cover the cost if gastric bypass surgery is used to correct an obesity-related condition.

Considerations

Gastric bypass surgery does not offer a quick fix to weight issues; it is a major surgery and requires diet and lifestyle changes for success.

Source:

Medline Plus: Gastric Bypass Surgery

WIN: Bariatric Surgery for Severe Obesity

Mayo Clinic: Gastric Bypass Surgery