List of Pros and Cons of Gastric Bypass Surgery

Also known as Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, the medical procedure known as gastric bypass has become quite popular in recent years. For personal or health reasons, millions have tried this procedure as a means of eliminating a weight problem once and for all. Even in the present, the procedure is seen by some as a genuine, effective miracle of modern science.

Others aren’t quite so kind. There are a number of potential cons to gastric bypass surgery that all people should endeavor to keep in mind. Some believe that given these potential downsides, it is best to avoid the possibility of gastric bypass altogether. Is this truly the case? Do the risks mean it’s just not worth the trouble? There are several elements to the subject of gastric bypass that you are going to want to keep in mind.

Gastric Bypass Pros

Gastric bypass is sometimes known as a restrictive form of surgery. This is because the end result of the procedure is to limit the amount of food you can actually eat. It can also impact the ways in which your body absorbs calories and virtually all foods. Can it lead to significant weight loss? Absolutely. However, there are a number of things to consider. Let’s start with the benefits of gastric bypass:

1. Good Track Record.
If track records count for anything with medical procedures, then it is well worth mentioning that overall, the track record with gastric bypass is excellent. Not only does procedure have a long history behind it, but that history could be seen as largely successful. For those who are serious about losing a great deal of weight, gastric bypass is a possibility.

2. The Weight Loss is Dramatic.
One of the most appealing things about gastric bypass would involve the results themselves. To be sure, gastric bypass produces some pretty powerhouse results in the weight loss department.

3. The Weight Loss Doesn’t Immediately End With The Surgery.
Another benefit? Even after the surgery has been completed, you can expect to continue to lose weight for a number of months. In fact, some people continue to lose weight for as many as two full years!

4. The Weight Stays Off For a Pretty Long Time.
Not only does gastric bypass have the potential to eliminate a great deal of excess weight, but the surgery can also be so effective, the weight stays off for a very long time. Many patients maintain weight loss of sixty to seventy percent of their excess weight for as long as a full decade.

5. The Benefits Of Weight Loss Are Numerous.
When you lose this much weight, the idea is that you aren’t just going to look better than you have in years by removing a significant amount of excess weight, you can also alleviate some of the health conditions that are associated with obesity. For example, those who are at risk for diabetes can remove a good deal of that risk by learning more about the benefits of gastric bypass.

Gastric Bypass Cons

While there are a number of obvious benefits to gastric bypass, it is important to understand that there are a number of risks that you will want to keep in mind, too. Some of the more notable cons of gastric bypass include the following:

1. Personal Commitment.
A successful gastric bypass operation will ultimately prove to be a failure, if the patient doesn’t take their health and weight loss seriously afterwards. In order for a gastric bypass operation to be successful on every possible front, it will be the responsibility of the individual to make perfect, often dramatic changes to how they approach things like exercise and diet.

2. After The Surgery.
Gastric bypass will make dramatic alterations to the way your body absorbs calories. Because of this, it is possible for certain problems to occur in the aftermath of the surgery. Both anemia and malnourishment can occur afterwards. However, a long-term program with vitamins and minerals can keep these conditions from causing too many problems.

3. Gallstones.
Rapid weight loss can lead to gallstones. This includes the rapid weight loss that is experienced through gastric bypass.

4. Dumping Syndrome.
Some patients who undergo gastric bypass report later on that they feel an intense appetite for foods/snacks that are high in sugars. Diarrhea, nausea, and acid reflux are a few of the conditions that can occur with this sudden need for high sugar foods.

5. Small Mortality Rate.
The mortality rate associated with gastric bypass is very, very small. In fact, it stands at around 2.5%. This is certainly very low, particularly when you keep in mind how many use this procedure to help them lose weight. Even so, in terms of having a clear understanding of gastric bypass risks, this is something you will need to be aware of.