Gastric bypass surgery is one of our most popular weight loss surgery options and Birmingham Minimally Invasive. It’s a great option for weight loss surgery candidates, and there are many advantages.
While we do sometimes hear that patients have the impression that gastric bypass is a more invasive option, we always take a minimally invasive approach when possible.
With gastric bypass (also called Roux-en-Y), we create a small stomach pouch that restricts food intake. We attach a Y-shaped section of the small intestine to the pouch. This allows food to bypass the lower stomach — the duodenum (the first segment of the small intestine) and the first portion of the jejunum (the second segment of the small intestine). Doing so reduces the amount of food you can take in because your stomach holds only one to two ounces. This bypass also reduces the absorption of nutrients and thereby reduces calorie intake.
Advantages of Gastric Bypass Surgery
While weight loss is one of our overall goals and a huge advantage, there are other factors to consider as well.
Rapid weight loss for heavier patients
Gastric bypass is often a great option for our heavier patients because most lose up to 80% of their excess body weight (as opposed to about 60% with gastric sleeve surgery). This rapid weight loss can be very beneficial for those who have more severe health issues, such as sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
Good option if you have severe acid reflux or diabetes
Gastric bypass has been proven to cure both severe acid reflux and poorly controlled diabetes. If you have either of these issues, this is a huge advantage.
Other health improvements
You will follow a special diet plan before surgery that is geared toward reducing the amount of fat in and around your liver to reduce the risk of complications during the surgery. Reducing this fat in and around your liver and abdomen may allow you to have a laparoscopic rather than open surgery, which is always our preference at Birmingham Minimally Invasive.
One-on-one consultation with Dr. Long
When you come in to talk to us about the possibility of having weight loss surgery, our surgeon, Dr. Long, provides a one-on-one consultation. Many patients comment on his patient approach to this meeting, always taking the time to truly talk things out as much as needed and providing his expert advice. This helps each individual decide which weight reduction option is best.
Technically a reversible procedure
For some, it’s an advantage to know that gastric bypass is technically considered reversible. However, this is something we always want to avoid, because reversal will cause you to gain the weight back.
Price includes more than just the surgery
The cost of gastric bypass surgery starts at $15,999, and can go up to $18,500 for laparoscopic gastric bypass. But you get much more than just the surgery. This cost also includes:
- Pre-operative testing, blood work, and EKG, if necessary
- Pre-operative nutrition evaluation
- Surgeon fee for the procedure
- Anesthesiologist fee
- Hospital fee with one night in the hospital after surgery
- Post-operative visit with the nutritionist within 4 weeks of surgery
- Monthly support group meetings
Surgery may be covered by insurance
For those patients who do have insurance coverage, the cost may be somewhat less than the numbers mentioned above. However, insurance companies that do provide coverage of some sort typically have many requirements you must meet, such as a lengthy physician-supervised diet that may take up to seven month. While your journey might take a little longer, many of our patients have successfully used insurance to help them afford the cost of gastric bypass.
You will learn new, healthy, life-long eating habits
The gastric bypass diet can help you recover from surgery and transition to a way of eating that is healthy and supports your weight-loss goals. When you get to this point, you have been through a lot. But you will have learned a lot. By this time, most patients are very motivated to keep up the healthy habits they have learned, and we are confident that you will be too.
Let BMI Surgery help you improve your health with gastric bypass surgery.
The caring group of professionals at Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery will help you get started on your weight loss journey and stay with you every step along the way. Dr. Long and his team specialize in all types of bariatric surgery, including gastric sleeve surgery, gastric bypass, and the LAP-BAND. Visit us today at http://www.bmisurgery.com/ or give us a call to set up a consultation at 205-833-6907.
