Gastric bypass surgery is a bariatric procedure that promotes significant weight loss in obese individuals. Gastric bypass surgery is effective because surgeons reduce the size of the patient’s stomach and alter parts of the lower small intestine to limit nutrient absorption.
Dr. Jay C. Long is a board-certified surgeon specializing in bariatric conditions. He performs gastric bypass surgery at the Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery facility located about 3.5 hours from Memphis, Tennessee.
If you have any questions about gastric bypass or would like to learn more about our surgeon and facility, contact Birmingham Minimally Invasive at (205) 850-1973.
Gastric Bypass (Roux-en-Y) Surgery
Gastric bypass, professionally known as Roux-en-Y, is a minimally invasive bariatric procedure. If you choose Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery for your procedure, you’ll be in the trusted and capable hands of Dr. Long, who is formally trained in minimally invasive and certified in bariatric surgeries.
During gastric bypass surgery, your surgeon will:
- Create a smaller stomach.
- Separate the lower small intestine from the upper small intestine and connect it to the small stomach pouch.
The smaller stomach pouch restricts the amount of food the stomach can hold and reduces the number of calories the patient can consume in one sitting. The new connection allows food to bypass the upper intestine, which causes the body to absorb fewer calories and nutrients. The combined results? Weight loss.
Dr. Long can perform gastric bypass surgery in under two hours. We require our patients to recover at a local hospital for a couple of days for monitoring. Upon release, the Birmingham Minimally Invasive team will send our patients home to Memphis with a specialized diet plan and medication to manage pain.
Advantages of Gastric Bypass
- Longest Track Record – Gastric bypass surgery was first performed in the United States in 1967, giving it the longest national track record of any bariatric surgery.
- Fast Results – Gastric bypass patients lose an average of 66% of their weight within the first eight months post-procedure.
- Better Results – Compared to patients who opted for a gastric sleeve or other bariatric surgeries, gastric bypass patients are reported to lose more significant weight.
- Long-Term Results – Patients are reported to have lost and kept off 70% of their weight after ten years.
- Medical Advantages – Gastric bypass surgery can improve and sometimes cure sleep apnea, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
Disadvantages of Gastric Bypass
- Slower Recovery
- Mandatory Supplements – Gastric bypass patients are required to take life-long nutritional and mineral supplements.
- Not Easily Reversible – Unlike other bariatric surgeries, gastric bypass is not technically considered reversible. However, if necessary, surgeons can reverse the procedure.
- Possible Weight Regain
- Intestinal Leaks – The stomach and the lower small intestine connection created during surgery may begin to leak down the line.
Schedule a Consultation With a Bariatric Surgeon Near Memphis, TN
If you live in Memphis, Tennessee, and believe that gastric bypass surgery is right for you, consider Dr. Jay C. Long as your bariatric surgeon. Dr. Long has a 19-year history of performing bariatric surgeries and has aided the excess weight loss of thousands of patients.
Dr. Long is certified by the American Board of Surgery in general and bariatric surgery, has received over a dozen awards and honors for his work, and plays an active role in professional medical societies. He has the expertise and knowledge to help you determine if gastric bypass surgery is the right choice for you.
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Long, contact Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery via our online form or give us a call at (205) 850-1973. We offer virtual and in-office one-on-one consultations.
