Intestinal Bypass Weight Loss Surgery

Intestinal Bypass Checklist

If you’re considering your options in your fight against obesity, one of the options you should consider is intestinal bypass surgery, as it has shown early promise as the technique continues to develop. Below is a brief checklist of information regarding this strategy.

Background of Intestinal Bypass Surgery
The background of this procedure dates back to 1978, but was modified to include the modern “balloon” in 1983. Since then, the technique has grown in popularity and success.

Best Candidates for Intestinal Bypass Surgery
The best candidates for intestinal bypass surgery are those with a BMI of at least 35 and ranging to over 40. The best candidates are also generally free from other medical problems and tend to range in age from 18 to 55.

Uncertainty and Risks of Intestinal Bypass Surgery
There is uncertainty and risk with any surgery, and that includes the intestinal bypass procedure. Risks associated with intestinal bypass include gastric perforation, band slippage, erosion of the balloon and the need for a revision or adjustment to the balloon.

Planning for Intestinal Bypass Surgery
Planning for surgery involves the setting of guidelines by your doctor. These guidelines are usually centered on such things as diets, fluid intake, alcohol intake and the cessation of smoking in order to promote a faster and more comfortable recovery.

Preparing for Intestinal Bypass Surgery
Preparing for surgery involves all of the examinations necessary to make sure that you’re physically ready for this procedure. These examinations include an EKG, a chest X-ray and blood and urine analysis, among other tests.

Where Intestinal Bypass Surgery is Performed
The question of where surgery is performed always involves the same answer. Given the invasiveness of the procedure and the need for precision, the surgery is almost always performed at the hospital.

How Surgery is Performed
How this weight loss surgery is performed is a question for your doctor, but generally speaking, a pouch or “balloon,” as it’s sometimes called, is placed in the stomach to create a separate pouch in order to make a patient feel full faster.

Anesthesia for Weight Loss Surgery
Anesthesia is always used in this procedure, and most of the time, general anesthesia is administered, meaning that the patient will not be awake during the surgery.

After Weight Loss Surgery
Post-op considerations are extensive, in that the patient needs to re-learn how to eat properly subsequent to being released from the hospital. Hospital stays usually range from two to six days.

Intestinal Bypass Candidacy

If you’re considering intestinal bypass surgery as an option for your fight against obesity, you’ll first need to understand if you’re a good candidate for the procedure. As prospective patients attempt to decipher whether or not intestinal bypass surgery is an option, they often have questions. Three of the most common questions involving this procedure are, “How can I tell if I’m a good candidate for an intestinal bypass?”, “How will I be evaluated for an intestinal bypass?” and “Will my insurance help offset the costs of an intestinal bypass surgery?” Each of these questions is answered below, but for more specific information, contact a cosmetic surgeon for a consultation.

How can I tell if I’m a good candidate for an intestinal bypass?

The best candidates for intestinal bypass surgery are those patients with a BMI of at least 35 and ranging to over 40, are at least 100 pounds overweight and have no serious underlying medical conditions. Generally, these patients have also attempted to complete at least one other obesity-reducing strategy without success.

How will I be evaluated for an intestinal bypass?

You will be thoroughly examined for an intestinal bypass procedure, and this pre-op examination will include your BMI and weight measurements as well as an upper G.I. series, an EKG, a chest X-ray, a gallbladder UltraSound and blood and urine analysis. Your entire medical history will also be examined as well as your current overall medical condition to make sure that your body will respond well to this procedure.

Will my insurance help offset the costs of an intestinal bypass surgery?

This is a complicated question, and there is no concrete answer. Generally speaking, insurance companies cover all procedures that are considered medically necessary, but will not provide coverage for those procedures that are considered elective. Whether intestinal bypass surgery is elective or not is usually decided on a case-by-case basis. The best way to proceed is to speak with your doctor regarding the health risks in place without this surgery, and then to pass on the answer to this question to your insurance company. Make sure that you document all communication between you and your carrier in order to avoid any potential problems with coverage after the procedure is complete.

Overall, three of the most prominent questions asked by patients in regards to intestinal bypass surgery are, “How can I tell if I’m a good candidate for an intestinal bypass?”, “How will I be evaluated for an intestinal bypass?” and “Will my insurance help offset the costs of an intestinal bypass surgery?” General answers are provided above, but for specific answers to these questions as they relate to your situation, you need to contact a cosmetic surgeon for a complete consultation.

Intestinal Bypass Specifics

As you continue to research the possibilities that an intestinal bypass procedure could present to you in your ongoing fight against obesity, you’ll need to understand the particularities of how the procedure works. Three common questions patients have in this regard are, “Where are incisions placed for an intestinal bypass procedure?”, “What are some variations to the common intestinal bypass method?” and “What are some of the risks associated with intestinal bypass?” Each of these questions is answered below, and if you’d like additional information, the best way to obtain it is to contact a cosmetic surgeon.

Where are incisions placed for an intestinal bypass procedure?

Generally speaking, the incisions needed for an intestinal bypass procedure are cut into the abdominal region of the patient. Doctors will attempt to minimize these incisions, as the biggest cause of post-op complications are related to the incisions as opposed to the surgical devices, but this abdominal incision allows direct access to the stomach.

What are some variations to the common intestinal bypass method?

There is one “variation” that’s so common that many refuse to even call it a variation. This technique involves entry to the abdomen. As opposed to cutting an “open” incision in the area, many surgeons will instead cut a series of very small incisions and use smaller instruments guided by a tiny camera in order to install the “balloon” that restricts the size of the stomach. This method is called the “laparoscopic” method, and it’s growing in popularity on a continuing basis.

What are some of the risks associated with intestinal bypass?

There are risks associated with any surgery, and some are general while others are more specific to the procedure. Overall, though, risks involved with intestinal bypass surgery are statistically quite rare. However, these risks do include infections and bleeding in the incision area as well as the possibility of an erosion of the balloon that’s installed in the stomach or a slippage of the balloon, which requires additional surgery to replace and/or repair the original device. Generally speaking, these complications are easily managed with either medication, a follow-up procedure or both.

Generally speaking, three of the most common questions asked by patients in regards to the specifics of intestinal bypass surgery include, “Where are incisions placed for an intestinal bypass procedure?”, “What are some variations to the common intestinal bypass method?” and “What are some of the risks associated with intestinal bypass?” If you’d like to find out how this procedure could work for you, contact a cosmetic surgeon today for a consultation.

Intestinal Bypass Preparation and Recovery

Two extremely important components of any surgery are the specifics involving preparing for and recovering from a procedure. When it comes to intestinal bypass surgery, common questions regarding these issues include, “What steps should I take to prepare for intestinal bypass surgery?”, “What can I expect the day of surgery to be like?”, “How will I look and feel immediately following the surgery?”, “When can I pursue my normal activities again?” and “How long can I expect results to last?” Each of these questions is explained below.

What steps should I take to prepare for intestinal bypass surgery?
Your preparatory steps will be set out by your doctor, and your input will be of help in finalizing these steps. For instance, if you’re a smoker, you’ll need to stop smoking for at least a week and more likely two weeks prior to surgery, as smoking will slow the healing process. You’ll also need to follow diet guidelines so that the balloon is more easily placed inside your abdomen on the day of the procedure.

What can I expect the day of surgery to be like?
You can expect the day of your surgery to go by quickly and to involve several sometimes-conflicting emotions. You will feel a combination of fear, happiness, anxiety and anticipation, which is normal for any patient immediately prior to any surgery. The surgery itself will go by quickly, as you’ll most likely be placed under general anesthesia, which means that you’ll sleep through the operation.

How will I look and feel immediately following the surgery?

Immediately after the surgery, you’ll feel quite sore and experience some pain, but this is normal and easily controlled with medications. You’ll look just a bit bloated immediately afterwards, but over time this appearance will be reduced both as a result of natural swelling going down and your new diet contributing to a shrinkage in your abdominal region.

When can I pursue my normal activities again?
Your return to normal activities will occur in progressive stages. Immediately after surgery, you’ll need to remain in the hospital for a few days as a precautionary and observational measure. Beyond that, you should be able to return to work within a couple of weeks. However, your “normal” activities will be adjusted beyond the surgery, as you’ll need to adjust your diet and to incorporate exercise into your routine.

How long can I expect results to last?
That depends on your commitment to losing weight. This surgery is a beginning, rather than an end, to your fight against obesity. You will need to be diligent in your eating habits, and you’ll also need to maintain your discipline in regards to exercise. Those who have maintained their focus on the after-care recommendations have reported a complete change in lifestyle and overall health. If you “do this right,” you should expect a lifetime of results.

Overall, examples of questions regarding intestinal bypass surgery include, “What steps should I take to prepare for intestinal bypass surgery?”, “What can I expect the day of surgery to be like?”, “How will I look and feel immediately following the surgery?”, “When can I pursue my normal activities again?” and “How long can I expect results to last?” For more specific information, contact a cosmetic surgeon for a consultation.