The Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass involves the stapling of a small section at the top of the stomach to create a small pouch, similar in size to the one formed by the Gastric Band. The first section of the small intestine is then bypassed and the intestine re-attached to the new pouch, allowing the stomach contents to empty directly into it. With the reduced food intake, less absorption of food in the intestine and some hormonal changes, weight loss after a Gastric Bypass can be rapid, especially in the first few months.

The Gastric Bypass operation is performed as a laparoscopy (keyhole technique) and takes about an hour and a half with a total hospital stay of 2-3 nights. It is a major operation and you would expect to be off work for around four to six weeks afterwards. There is a quoted 0.5% risk of dying during, or as a result of the Gastric Bypass operation, mainly due to the risk of developing blood clots, haemorrhage or leaks, so we take great care in minimising this risk with pre-op preparation for surgery and expert inpatient care.

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