Losing weight can be challenging. For some, it can prove to be almost impossible. While dieting and exercising should get the job done, sometimes it doesn’t work, or if it does — the pounds can creep back on.
Unfortunately, if you can’t shed the weight, you put yourself at risk for developing a number of health problems, such as Type 2 diabetes, joint issues, cardiovascular disease, and others.
Board-certified and gastric bypass specialist Jamshid Nazarian, MD, FACS, FAMBS, and our professional bariatric team understand the struggle. We also have the expertise to advise you on the best option for you to help you lose weight.
If you’re severely obese, gastric bypass surgery might be your answer. It provides one of the most effective ways to lose weight quickly and correct related health issues. Other conditions can also make this option right for you.
Deciding if gastric bypass is right for you
If your body mass index (BMI) is over 40, or if you’re at least 100 pounds overweight, gastric bypass can produce highly successful results for you.
However, you might also be a candidate for gastric bypass, even if your BMI is not quite obese (between 36 and 39) but you have co-morbidity issues, such as:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Hypertension
- Heart disease
- Arthritis
- Fatty liver disease
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Sleep apnea
If you only have 20-30 pounds to lose, Dr. Nazarian doesn’t recommend this life-altering surgery for you.
How the procedure of gastric bypass surgery works
Dr. Nazarian performs your surgery laparoscopically, which is a minimally invasive procedure.
He divides your stomach into two sections, creating a small, upper section to hold your food, and a lower, larger section that gets bypassed. He also disconnects the upper part of your small intestine and reconnects it to the lower portion, which decreases its length.
The surgery requires you to be closely monitored for several days in the hospital after your procedure to make sure your body adjusts to the changes.
How gastric bypass surgery helps you lose weight
This surgery helps you lose a significant amount of weight in two different ways, including:
You eat less
Your surgery entails reducing the size of your stomach down to the size of a walnut, which can only hold about an ounce of food until it’s fully digested.
The new size of your stomach controls your portions as well as your appetite. When you eat, you get full quickly, making the amount of food you eat far less when compared with how you ate previously.
Your body absorbs less calories
Gastric bypass surgery also shortens the length of your small intestine. As food travels through it, the shorter length of your intestine gives it less time to absorb the calories from your food.
During your consultation, Dr. Nazarian talks to you about what to expect before, during, and after your surgery.
To learn more about gastric bypass surgery, and to find out if it’s right for you, contact our friendly office by phone today at 310-854-1174 or book your appointment online.