The risks of gastric bypass surgery

Gastric bypass surgery is a very serious surgical procedure that many people choose to undergo in order to help them to lose a large amount of weight that may be damaging their health. There are many things to consider when you're looking into getting gastric bypass surgery, so in this article, we'll be helping you to find out more about the possible things that could go wrong with the procedure. The more that you know about a surgery, the better chance you have at making the right decision regarding your health.

Unfortunately, there are many things that can go wrong when you get a gastric bypass surgery performed. While it's a great method for losing a large amount of weight, there are many risks associated with the procedure. One aspect of getting the surgery that many fail to realize is that since you're disabling part of the stomach and part of the intestine, your body is not able to efficiently process the nutrients that you intake as well as it does normally. For that reason, many people who undergo the surgery face problems with vitamin and mineral deficiencies. A lack of iron may lead to anemia and a lack of calcium may lead to osteoporosis, amongst other things. These deficiencies can be brought to a minimum by maintaining a proper diet as recommended by a dietitian, as well as the use of Vitamin B12 shots to supplement your nutrition. Iron and Vitamin B12 deficiencies occur in as many as thirty percent of all people who undergo bypass surgery. Also, between five and fifteen percent of people receiving bypass surgery experience a narrowing of the passage between the stomach and the intestine, which can cause the patient to feel nauseous and possibly vomit after eating. Five to fifteen percent of gastric bypass patients also may develop ulcers due to the surgery.

The staples that are used to bind the stomach may come loose, resulting in serious problems. Hernias are sometimes developed in those who undergo the surgery. If the new, smaller, banded portion of the stomach enlarges, you may find yourself hiccupping often and feeling bloated. Other problems that may occur due to gastric bypass surgery include the stomach leaking into the abdominal cavity, the development of gall stones, and blood clot occurring in the lungs. Unfortunately, a small percentage of those who receive gastric bypass surgery die due to the procedure. This number rests at around three individuals per two hundred. For that reason, gastric bypass is something that you need to seriously consider before determining whether or not it's right for you. There are many things that can go wrong and the surgery is generally considered one that is performed only when completely necessary.

Now that you know more about the possible problems that are associated with receiving gastric bypass surgery, you can better understand the need to seriously consider your options before opting for the surgery. While it's the only option for some, you may want to ask your doctor what types of viable alternatives are available.

Gastric banding news on the Web

Allergan Stops Lap-Band Sales to '1-800-Get-Thin' Surgeons - Medscape

89.3 KPCC

Allergan Stops Lap-Band Sales to '1-800-Get-Thin' Surgeons
Medscape
February 4, 2012 — Medical device maker Allergan announced February 2 that it will no longer sell its gastric-banding device to a group of Southern California weight-loss surgery centers that are under intense scrutiny for their safety record, ...
Companies behind gastric bypass bands refuse to sell to SoCal surgery centers89.3 KPCC

all 54 news articles »

More weight loss seen with gastric bypass than banding - USA TODAY

USA TODAY

More weight loss seen with gastric bypass than banding
USA TODAY
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay Gastric bypass surgery results in faster and longer-lasting weight loss than does gastric banding, according to a new study by Swiss investigators. Gastric bypass surgery results in faster and longer-lasting weight loss ...
Bypass Beats Band for Weight LossWall Street Journal
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Superior to Gastric BandingMedscape
Gastric Bypass Works Better Than Gastric Banding In Losing WeightDaily Gossip
Chicago Tribune -Family Practice News Digital Network -CBS News
all 50 news articles »

Legal Problems Pile Up for '1-800-Get-Thin' Surgeons - Medscape

Legal Problems Pile Up for '1-800-Get-Thin' Surgeons
Medscape
February 2, 2012 — A group of weight-loss surgery centers in southern California already chastised by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for how they advertise laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding face new legal challenges from seemingly ...

Star Jones sports a fuller figure, nine years on from gastric band surgery - Daily Mail

Daily Mail

Star Jones sports a fuller figure, nine years on from gastric band surgery
Daily Mail
By Daily Mail Reporter She famously went through a gastric bypass surgery back in 2003 in a last ditch attempt to shed some pounds. But yesterday, TV personality and former View co-host Star Jones seemed to be sporting a fuller figure as she arrived at ...

and more »

Program helps woman lose weight, enjoy life - Bloomington Pantagraph

Program helps woman lose weight, enjoy life
Bloomington Pantagraph
Swiskoski credits laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (commonly called lap band) surgery, a healthy eating and exercise plan, successful treatment for depression and the support of her family. "Before surgery, I didn't want to leave the house.

Mexico Weight Loss Surgeon Operates on Winner of “Nashville Star” - PR Urgent (press release)

Mexico Weight Loss Surgeon Operates on Winner of “Nashville Star”
PR Urgent (press release)
The sleeve gastrectomy was part of a revision surgery after Lawson encountered difficulty with her gastric band. Lawson was named the winner of NBC's “Nashville Star” in 2008 during its sixth season. After struggling with obesity most of her life, ...

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Stanford expert weighs in on study comparing gastric bypass and banding - Scope (blog)

Scope (blog)

Stanford expert weighs in on study comparing gastric bypass and banding
Scope (blog)
Gastric bypass surgery appears to provide longer-lasting weight loss than gastric banding, according to findings published earlier this week in Archives of Surgery. As USA Today reported, the study followed more than 400 patients in Switzerland for six ...

and more »

Gastric band success for obese diabetic - The Guardian

The Guardian

Gastric band success for obese diabetic
The Guardian
A morbidly obese diabetic who was given just months to live if he did not control his weight is on course to lose six stone after his health authority paid for a gastric-band operation following a landmark legal case. The news, which will be studied by ...

Dr. Oz Highlights the Benefits of Gastric Bypass Surgery, Even for Patients ... - MarketWatch (press release)

Dr. Oz Highlights the Benefits of Gastric Bypass Surgery, Even for Patients ...
MarketWatch (press release)
The accomplished surgeons at Dr. Feiz & Associates, a leading provider of gastric bypass surgery, gastric sleeve surgery, and the Lap Band in Los Angeles, have maintained a complication rate of less than 1% (significantly lower than the national ...

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For some teens: Gastric band, not punk rock band - American Council on Science and Health

For some teens: Gastric band, not punk rock band
American Council on Science and Health
Allergan, the producer of the commonly used Lap-Band, which is used in the laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding procedure that constricts the stomach and makes the patient feel full on little food, is pressing for permission from the FDA to use its ...


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