Significant obesity can impact overall quality of life, increasing the risk of serious health conditions, affecting self-esteem, and making it difficult to do the simple activities that many people take for granted. If obesity is stopping you from living your life, the mini gastric bypass procedure may be right for you.
Mini gastric bypass surgery facilitates weight loss by reducing the size of the stomach and bypassing portions of the small intestine with minimal incisions and down time. As with any surgical procedure, there are some possible complications that may occur after mini gastric bypass surgery. For answers to your questions about mini gastric bypass complications, schedule a consultation with Tijuana, MX surgeon Liza María Pompa González, serving San Diego, CA and surrounding areas.
What Is Mini Gastric Bypass?
A mini gastric bypass is a surgical procedure used to help those who struggle with obesity lose weight. Mini gastric bypass surgery offers the benefits of a standard gastric bypass while being less invasive. The mini gastric bypass procedure is performed laparoscopically. This allows the surgery to be completed through small incisions.
Instruments are inserted through these incisions and used to separate the stomach into a small, narrow tube and a larger pouch. Once the narrow tube is formed, it is connected to a portion of the small intestines, bypassing a significant portion of the small intestines.
Reducing the size of the stomach helps patients feel fuller with less food, and bypassing part of the small intestines helps decrease the absorption of calories, both of which combine to help patients lose weight faster.
Complications of Mini Gastric Bypass
As with any surgical procedure, there are some possible risks to be aware of when considering mini gastric bypass surgery. However, because mini gastric bypass surgery is performed laparoscopically, the risks are minor. Some possible complications of mini gastric bypass surgery include:
- Infection: Infection is a risk anytime the skin is broken, as with a wound or surgical incision. The risk of infection after mini gastric bypass is minor and can be prevented by keeping incisions clean and washing the hands before caring for incisions.
- Leakage: There is a small risk of leakage between the stomach pouch and intestines after mini gastric bypass surgery.
- Dumping syndrome: Dumping syndrome is a condition in which food moves from the stomach to the small bowel too quickly, potentially causing abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Dumping syndrome is often alleviated by dietary changes, such as eating smaller meals and avoiding foods high in sugar.
The Benefits of Mini Gastric Bypass
For those who struggle with obesity, the benefits of mini gastric bypass often far outweigh the minor risk of complications, not to mention the health risks associated with obesity. One of the most significant benefits of mini gastric bypass is the improvement to overall health that weight loss typically brings. Mini gastric bypass can help those who are significantly overweight achieve a healthy weight, reducing the risk of obesity-related health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, edema, and sleep apnea.
When compared to the standard gastric bypass procedure, mini gastric bypass offers the benefit of a lower risk of complications and a faster recovery. Also, mini gastric bypass surgery is typically completed in an hour, whereas standard gastric bypass surgery usually requires about four hours.
Learn More about Mini Gastric Bypass
For more information about mini gastric bypass, or to find out if mini gastric bypass surgery is right for you, please contact our team to schedule a consultation.