Roux-en-Y (RNY) Gastric Bypass Surgery

Most Common Type of Weight Loss Surgery

The Gastric Bypass procedure is considered by many doctors to be the current “gold standard” procedure for weight loss surgery. It is the most frequently performed weight loss surgery in the United States. This procedure creates a small “pouch”, about 1 ½ oz in size while separating the lower part of the stomach and upper part of the small intestine by staples. The lower portion of the small intestine (jejunum) is reconnected to the newly formed pouch. This changes the newly formed pouch. This changes the number of calories absorbed and suppresses the chemical that drives hunger. A metabolic change also occurs that has a greater influence on weight loss and this is why patients see a change in diabetic tendencies even before they leave the hospital.

What to Expect with Roux-en-Y (RNY)/Gastric Bypass

North Texas Medical Center patients typically experience:

• A hospital stay of 2 nights
• Recovery of 1-3 weeks
• Surgery is Laparoscopic
• Three weeks on a liquid diet
• 10% weight loss per month
• Complication rate is 0.5%
• Follow-up with a doctor once every three months
• The risk for dumping syndrome
• No fills
• No risks associated with a foreign body

Weight Loss after Roux-en-Y (RNY)/Gastric Bypass

Patients with this type of bariatric surgery lose weight faster than with other surgeries. Typically, 60% of weight loss can be expected in the first 6 months and up to 80% total in the first 12 to 18 months. (For example- if your goal is to lose 100lbs, 60% of that can be list in the first 6 months= 60lbs.) After 18 months, weight loss slows considerably but can still be continued. After 24 months, studies have shown that most patients keep off up to 85% of the excess weight over a 5 to 15-year period.