The Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass surgery is the most popular weight loss surgery in the U.S. It was first performed over 40 years ago and has been modified a number of times. It is considered the “Gold Standard” in the U.S. as compared to other common weight loss operations. WeightWise surgeons are highly trained and skilled to perform the Gastric Bypass surgery using minimally invasive surgery techniques, also called laparoscopic surgery.

How Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Works
The restriction of food intake as the result of a bypass is accomplished by dividing the stomach into two parts. One part is very small (the new pouch), and the other part, while much larger, is never exposed to food again. The new stomach, or pouch, holds less than one ounce, which translates into about two or three bites of food.

Once the bypass is surgically complete, the process of digesting one’s food is slightly changed. When a patient swallows food, it passes through the esophagus and the new stomach pouch into a segment of the small intestine called the “Roux limb.”

The changed anatomy of the stomach and intestines can be seen in the picture above, including the new stomach pouch and the Roux limb. Once the surgeon completes the bypass and before the surgery is finished, we perform a blue dye pressure test to ensure no leakage from the newly joined sections of the digestive system occurs.

If you would like to sign up for one of our free Oklahoma gastric bypass surgery information sessions, click here!

Click here to listen to Dr. Walton discuss Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass.

1. What does the name of the operation mean?

2. Will I be able to eat normally after surgery?

3. What is “dumping?”

4. How much weight can I expect to lose?