Gastric Bypass

Gastric bypass is a mixed laparoscopic procedure, because it not only restricts but also promotes absorption changes. It consists in the modification of the digestive tract, by dividing the stomach into two parts, a small (30 ml) stomach pouch, and the remaining of the stomach which is not removed from the body, but is completely stapled shut and divided from the stomach pouch. The outlet from this newly formed pouch empties directly into the small intestine, thus bypassing calorie absorption. This way, you will eat about 30% of your regular diet, absorbing about 60% of your total caloric intake; which will allow you to gradually lose weight.

Gastric bypass surgery is performed under general anesthesia, it lasts approximately 2.5 hours and requires two to three nights of hospital stay. The loss of excess weight during the first year will be on average 90%. Gastric bypass has shown better results than purely restrictive surgeries. Nutritional counseling will be required after the procedure. You will be prescribed some vitamin supplements to ensure a healthy weight loss, and same as with all weight loss procedures, exercise is important to improve physical fitness, to preserve muscle mass, and to enhance weight loss.

Gastric bypass is the most practiced obesity surgery worldwide, and has delivered the best long term results in terms of weight loss and maintenance of the lost weight. Besides, it improves and in somecases has even cured obesity related health conditions (type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, etc.)

This particular surgery is most prominent in U.S. and Canada as the surgeons are more familiar with this procedure vs. the leading gastric sleeve surgery. Undergoing gastric bypass surgery in Mexico with our qualified surgeons is a smart play if you’re looking to have your surgery done in a full-service certified hospital. Our team has performed thousands of gastric bypass surgeries and has the experience to handle even the most atypical cases.

 

NUTRITIONAL GUIDELINES

The surgery you have undergone was developed to induce weight loss and to avoid some of the medical complications associated with obesity. You should expect to make drastic changes to your diet after undergoing bariatric surgery. The stomach will be reduced to a much smaller size and, as a result, the amount of food you can eat is very limited. In order to ensure good nutrition and health, you must also pay very close attention to the types of food you eat. Foods that were well tolerated prior to surgery may cause discomfort afterwards. Discussing your diet with a nutritionist after bariatric surgery can prepare you to make educated and healthy food choices.
Vitamin and minerals harder to absorb after surgery:
Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Vitamin B12, Iron, Calcium

Another possible complication is called "Gastric dumping syndrome", happens when the lower end of the small intestine, the jejunum, fills too quickly with undigested food from the stomach. "Early" dumping begins during or right after a meal. Symptoms include:
Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Bloating, Dizziness, Fatigue, Cramping. "Late" dumping happens 1 to 3 hours after eating. Symptoms of late dumping include weakness, sweating, and dizziness. Many people have both types. Dumping syndrome is largely avoidable by avoiding certain foods which are likely to cause it, therefore having a balanced diet is important.

After surgery, in order to allow your stomach to heal completely, you will need to follow a special diet for the first eight weeks where you have to avoid eating solid food or with more texture than specified because this may cause some discomfort. You will progress through the following phases of the diet after surgery:

  • Clear liquids (4 weeks)
  • Puree food (2 weeks)
  • Soft diet (2 weeks)

The main purpose of this Plan is that you increase gradually the food texture; this will give your body time to heal, your diet will be slowly advanced from liquids to puree/ground foods to solid foods.

You must follow the diet increasing gradually the texture according to your tolerance. About quantity, stop eating as soon as you feel “satisfied”, once your stomach is full; your body receives a signal that you have eaten enough. It takes time, though for you to become aware of this signal.

If you hurry your meal, you may eat more than you need. If you try to eat more than you should at one time you may become nauseous. You may also vomit, if you routinely eat too much, the small stomach pouch may stretch.

It is very important to choose healthy foods.
These tips are important to ensure healthy weight reduction and should be closely followed to assure you ingest enough protein and liquids.

After Gastric Bypass, you should be able to eat only a small amount so the food you eat should be as healthy as possible. Do not fill your small stomach pouch with junk food that lacks vitamins and other important nutrients. Your meals should be high in protein and vitamins. Fresh vegetables, fruit, meat and cereals are good foods to choose. Foods high in fat and sugar are not.

The small stomach pouch can hold only about half a cup of food. If you try to eat more than this at one time you may become nauseated or vomit.

If you routinely eat too much, the small pouch may stretch. That’s why you need to eat only three small meals (only solid food) a day plus 2 healthy snacks, also is very important that you do not skip a meal

When you are able to eat solid foods without problems, you will need to pay close attention to the way you eat. The following points will help you:
a) Eat slowly.
b) Chew foods thoroughly, until they reach a mushy consistency.
c) Take small bites of food.
d) Stop eating as soon as you feel full.
e) DO NOT DRINK LIQUIDS WITH YOUR MEALS. (This will cause your stomach to get filled with liquid too quickly and you will not be able eat the amounts of food you need to).
f) Drink only low-calorie liquids between meals. If you drink liquids high in calories, you will lose little weight, even if you otherwise follow your diet.

If you follow these rules for eating, drinking and you also exercise, that will help you get the best results you can. How willing you are to follow a new way of eating is the key to make the operation a success

  • The normal stomach holds about 6 to 8 cups of food. After Gastric Bypass surgery, your stomach will hold much less (1 or 2 cups). Eating too much will cause pain and discomfort along with vomiting or regurgitation.
  • Eating the wrong foods or eating too much during the first month can cause pain and discomfort too.
  • Exercise. Aim for at least 30 minutes every day. Exercise helps maintain long term weight loss. The first four weeks, walking should be used as the primary exercise. After four weeks, try introducing strength exercises. Always speak with your doctor if you have never exercised.

1. Your diet must be sugar low to avoid the dumping syndrome.
2. Make sure you take supplements for vitamins.
3. Try to have 3 to 5 meals every day.
4. Add a new kind of food at a time, this will help you determine your tolerance, if you feel nausea or pain, you are not ready for that food yet, wait a few days and try again.
5. It is important to drink plenty of fluids during the day in order to stay hydrated and replace the fluid that is lost due to weight loss. Drink at least 6-8 cups of water per day and make sure you consume them between meals and not during; otherwise, your stomach will not hold enough food because it will be filled with liquid.
6. You must consume fifty to sixty grams of protein daily to avoid protein deficiency. Protein deficiency causes hair loss, fatigue, edema, muscle weakness, and a delay in wound healing. You need adequate protein to build muscle, but if 10-15% of your diet is protein, you are getting enough to maintain and add new muscle and tissue.

Some protein sources:
Skim or Soya Milk (1 cup) 8gr Protein
Dried Milk (1 Tbsp) 3gr Protein
Cottage cheese (¼ cup) 8gr Protein
Cheese (30g) 6gr Protein
Beef, Poultry, fish or egg (30g) 7gr Protein
Lentils, beans or peas (1/2 cup) 6gr Protein
Nuts, Almonds and seeds 5gr Protein
Rice, Oatmeal or Wheat (1/2 cup) 2gr Protein
High Protein Supplements: Ensure High Protein, Slim fast, Whey Protein 10gr Protein, aprox

7. Always aim for low sodium, low fat and low sugar or sugarless products.

  • High sugar foods, such as: candy, cookies, ice cream, milkshakes, regular yogurt, marshmallows and popsicles, they are high in calories and leave you hungry for more.
  • The use of a straw. When drinking with straws you’re taking in air as well, this would take up space where food and liquids could go and you need that space for something that keep you nourished and hydrated.
  • Carbonated drinks, both diet and regular may cause gas, they are not recommended at any time.
  • Caffeine is a diuretic, which causes fluid loss.
  • Alcohol has a high number of calories and breaks down vitamins also causes severe damage to your liver, so it is not recommended as a healthy food choice.
  • High fat food, this kind may cause pain, nausea and vomiting, also it will prevent successful weight loss.
  • Calories provide energy and fuel for the body. Calorie restriction is needed for weight loss. It is recommended that women should consume 1200 calories per day and men should consume 1500 calories per day after surgery. It is important that you do not skip meals or limit calories below these recommendations to ensure that minimum requirements are met to provide required calories for basic body function.

Cost of Gastric Bypass

Remember, at the Center for Integral Treatment of Obesity we are at your service. Do not hesitate to contact us.

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