Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery

at Cedar Park Surgeons, PA (near Austin)

When performed by professionals such as Alan Abando, M.D., or Nicole Basa, M.D., obesity surgery can result in a life-changing transformation. After surgery, patients experience renewed health, increased mobility, and dramatically improved quality of life. One of the procedures that Cedar Park Surgeons, PA offers is Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, which reroutes the digestive tract and restricts the capacity of the stomach to help patients effectively lose a significant amount of weight. Our surgeons use a laparoscopic approach on appropriate candidates. Learn more about minimally invasive laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery at our Cedar Park practice near Austin; if you are interested in determining whether you are an appropriate candidate for the surgery, contact our bariatric surgeon team to attend a free bariatric seminar.

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery combines malabsorptive and restrictive elements of bariatric surgery for increased effectiveness. The restrictive element of the surgery reduces the functioning capacity of the stomach, thus decreasing the amount of food that can be taken in. The malabsorptive component reroutes the digestive tract to limit the absorption and digestion of calories and nutrients. After surgery, patients feel full earlier during meals and lose weight rapidly in the year that follows.

During the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, our surgeons staple a portion of the stomach together to create a small pouch where the food will enter. The pouch is only large enough to hold a few ounces of food. Our surgeon reattaches the pouch to the central portion of the small intestine, bypassing the lower part of the stomach and the upper portion of the small intestine. Because the food will now bypass these areas, the absorption of calories is greatly reduced. However, because the new tract bypasses the duodenum, certain minerals and vitamins are not absorbed either, so patients typically need to take a nutritional supplement regularly after surgery to stay strong and healthy.

Minimally Invasive Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery

During a minimally invasive laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, our surgeons will make several small incisions instead of one large incision (as in open gastric bypass surgery). Through the small incisions, they will insert their instruments, as well as a tube with a tiny camera (called a laparoscope) attached to the end which projects images onto a screen in the operating room.

By carefully moving the camera around and watching the screen, our surgeons can see the patient's inner organs and the area in they are operating. Laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery requires extreme technical precision and accuracy, but our surgeons are highly respected for their experience in minimally invasive and laparoscopic surgery techniques. Performing bariatric procedures laparoscopically greatly decreases the risk of complications and allows the patient to recover more quickly and comfortably.

Benefits of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery

  • Decreased appetite: Post-bariatric surgery patients report feeling full sooner, since the smaller stomach pouch doesn't hold as much food as before the surgery. Some patients lose their fixation on food.
  • Rapid weight loss: A severe cut in caloric intake, coupled with decreased cravings for fatty, sugary foods and limited nutrient absorption causes patients to lose excess weight quickly and maintain a lower weight.
  • Reduced obesity-related health problems: As the weight comes off, patients see co-occurring health issues like hypertension, sleep apnea, arthritis, and diabetes improve or disappear.

Contact Cedar Park Surgeons, PA

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, especially when performed laparoscopically, is the gold standard of weight loss treatment for those suffering from morbid obesity. To learn more about laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, contact our Cedar Park bariatric surgeon team, serving Austin, and surrounding Texas communities.