Mini Gastric Bypass Weight Loss Surgery
You have probably heard of traditional gastric bypass surgery. Few people know that there are in fact two kinds of gastric bypass. The traditional is one type and there is also the mini gastric bypass, also referred to as the anastomosis gastric bypass or omega loop gastric bypass.
To understand the difference between the two, it helps to become familiar with the way traditional gastric bypass works helps you lose excess pounds when you have struggled with obesity for some time.
What is a Traditional Gastric Bypass Surgery?
Many experts consider gastric bypass surgery to be the gold standard of bariatric or weight loss surgery. During the procedure, the stomach is divided into two separate pouches – an upper portion and lower portion. The intestine is then partially rerouted. These changes to the digestive system limit the number of calories you are able to consume in a single meal. Medically, this is referred to as restrictive weight loss. By rerouting the intestines, your body absorbs fewer calories during digestion. This is referred to as malabsorptive weight loss.
What is Mini Gastric Bypass Surgery?
Mini gastric bypass is similar to the traditional version of bariatric surgery with distinct differences. Like the original surgery, the stomach is divided into an upper and lower pouch before the intestine is rerouted. This means that, like traditional gastric bypass, mini gastric bypass surgery allows for both restrictive and malabsorption weight loss.
The difference between the two procedures is that the mini version is performed in a modified manner that involves less rerouting of the intestines. The duration of the surgery is also shorter.
What Are the Benefits of a Mini Gastric Bypass Over the Traditional Gastric Bypass?
Patients often opt for a traditional gastric bypass when they have struggled with obesity for many years. By allowing for two forms of weight loss, significant excess pounds can be shed in as little as two years, in most cases.
In addition to weight loss, gastric bypass can be an effective treatment for weight-related comorbidities like heart disease, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes.
Patients opt for a mini gastric bypass when they want a less invasive surgical procedure. It helps that you spend less time on the surgical table with a mini bypass as well, which is a major selling point. Because the surgery is faster with less invasiveness, other benefits include an easier recovery process and less chance of complications.
What are the Risks of Traditional vs. Mini Gastric Bypass Surgery?
Traditional gastric bypass surgery, like all surgeries, does come with risks. The main risk is that, if the surgery does not work, surgeons cannot restore the internal organs to the way they were before. Revisions can be made, however, if complications result and need to be reduced. There is always a risk of infection and other surgical complications, which is why you want to spend time finding the best bariatric surgeon to perform the procedure.
The risks of a mini gastric bypass are similar to that of a traditional gastric bypass. There is always a risk of infection and adverse side effects, as with any major surgery. There is also a risk with the mini that the weight loss you experience may not be as dramatic as the kind delivered with the traditional gastric bypass. If you experience less than favorable results, additional bariatric treatment may be required.
What is Recovery Like for Both Gastric Bypass Procedures?
Recovery is considered effortless for both traditional gastric bypass and mini gastric bypass surgery due to the fact that both procedures are performed laparoscopically. Since there is no need to open the body cavity, smaller incisions are used, resulting in smaller scars, and there is a lowered chance of complications. Since mini gastric bypass is less complicated in nature than traditional gastric bypass, recovery tends to be faster for patients with less downtime.
Are You a Suitable Candidate for Mini Gastric Bypass Surgery?
In order to be considered for a mini gastric bypass procedure, you must have a body mass index (BMI) of 35 to 40 with no other medical conditions or diseases, not including obesity comorbidities.
If you have a history of GERD (gastroesophageal disease), a traditional gastric bypass might be more suited to your condition.
There should also be no history of alcohol or smoking abuse. Both habits can increase your risk of surgical complications.
Since both traditional gastric bypass surgery and mini-gastric bypass work in a similar manner, your candidacy for each procedure depends on your needs and weight loss goals. During an in-person consultation at Healthy Life Bariatrics, bariatric surgeon Dr. Babak Moeinolmolki can determine which type of surgery is most ideal for you and your current struggle against obesity.
Learn More About Mini Gastric Bypass Surgery
If you are ready to attain optimal health and stay healthy for life, the mini gastric bypass procedure could be the answer to finally taking control of your weight, wellness, and self-esteem.
The expertly trained team at Healthy Life Bariatrics is waiting to help usher you through the next stages of your journey. For further information about bariatric surgery, including the mini-gastric bypass, and the risks and benefits, contact a bariatric surgeon in Los Angeles at (310)881-8503 to schedule your consultation.
