Risks and benefits
Benefits of gastric bypass surgery include:
- Significant weight loss
- Patients typically lose 61.6 percent of excess weight in the first year following surgery
- Improvements in health, quality of life, and, of course, significant weight loss are important bariatric surgery benefits
- At least two-thirds of patients who undergo gastric bypass surgery are able to keep off at least 50 percent of their excess weight for 10 years or longer
- Improvement or resolution of many serious health problems
- In a clinical study, gastric bypass surgery reduced the total number of serious health problems (known as co-morbid conditions or co-morbidities) of participating patients by 96 percent
| Health improvements after gastric bypass surgery | |
| Health problem (Co-morbidity) | Result after gastric bypass surgery |
|---|---|
| Type 2 Diabetes | Resolved† in 83.7% of patients. In fact, in some gastric bypass cases, resolution of type 2 diabetes occurred within days of the surgery. |
| High blood pressure | Resolved in 67.5% of patients |
| High cholesterol | Improved†† in 94.9% of patients |
| Obstructive sleep apnea | Resolved in 80.4% of patients |
| Acid reflux/GERD | Resolved in 98% of patients |
| Depression | Improved in 47% of patients |
| Osteoarthritis and joint pain | Resolved in 41% of patients |
| Stress urinary incontinence | Resolved in 44% of patients |
| Menstrual dysfunction due to polycystic ovarian syndrome | Resolved in 100% of patients |
| Ovulation and fertility restored | Restored in 100% of patients |
† In medical terminology, “resolved” is defined as removing all known symptoms and signs of the condition or disease.
†† In medical terminology, “improved” is defined as reducing the known symptoms and signs of the condition or disease.
Shorter hospital stays, faster recovery
Laparoscopic (minimally invasive) surgery results in a shorter hospital stay, faster recovery, smaller scars and less pain than open surgical procedures.
Weight loss surgery cost savings over time
Weight loss surgery may help to improve or resolve conditions associated with obesity, such as type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol.
Patients potentially save money on related prescription drugs, doctor visits and hospital visit.
Quality-of-life improvements
Clinical studies of laparoscopic bariatric surgery patients found that they felt better, spent more time doing recreational and physical activities, benefited from enhanced productivity and economic opportunities, and had more self-confidence than they did prior to surgery.
Risks and complications
As with any surgical procedure, potential risks and complications can occur with gastric bypass. Although these problems rarely occur, listed below are gastric bypass risks, bariatric surgery risks and abdominal surgery risks.
Potential concerns and risks of gastric bypass:
- A condition known as dumping syndrome can occur from eating high-fat, high-sugar foods. The results can be unpleasant and may include vomiting, nausea, weakness, sweating, faintness and diarrhea. Some patients actually view this as a positive mechanism that prevents them from reverting back to unhealthy eating habits.
- Patients must supplement their diet with a daily multivitamin and calcium. Some patients must take vitamin B12 and/or iron.
- The stomach, duodenum, and parts of the small intestine cannot be seen easily using X-ray or endoscopy if there are problems after surgery such as ulcers, bleeding or malignancy
- Dehiscence (separation of tissue that was stitched or stapled together)
- Leaks from staple lines
- Ulcers
- Increased gas
Other risks include:
- Abdominal hernia
- Chest pain
- Collapsed lung
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Enlarged heart
- Gallstones, pain from passing a gallstone, inflammation of the gallbladder or surgery to remove the gallbladder
- Gastrointestinal inflammation or swelling
- Stoma obstruction
- Stretching of the stomach
- Surgical procedure repeated
- Vomiting and nausea
Note: Your weight, age and medical history play a significant role in determining your specific risks. Your surgeon can inform you about your specific weight loss surgery risks.
Risks associated with any abdominal surgery:
- Bleeding
- Complications due to anesthesia and medications
- Death
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Injury to stomach, esophagus, or surrounding organs
- Infection
- Pain
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary embolism
- Shoulder pain
- Stroke or heart attack
Note: Risks are associated with any type of surgery, including abdominal surgery. These risks are greater for individuals who suffer from obesity.
Mortality rates
According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery 2012 Consensus Statement, the gastric bypass complication rate in the hands of a skilled surgeon is roughly five percent, and the operative mortality (death) rate is roughly 0.5 percent.
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