Bariatric surgeries are effective treatments for obesity and can even help manage related health problems. There are different types of weight loss procedure suitable for patients. One of the most popular procedure today is mini gastric bypass.
Mini gastric bypass is a procedure that reroutes the pathway of food by altering the stomach and intestines. This limits the amount of food that the patient can eat. This leads to fast weight loss, which helps patients achieve a stable weight after surgery.
This surgery is the same as the traditional gastric bypass. However, there are still differences between the two. Learn more about mini gastric bypass and its benefits for patients here.
Procedure
Traditional gastric bypass surgery is a procedure that divides the stomach into two – the upper stomach pouch and the lower pouch. The upper part is smaller compared to the lower part. This ensures that the food patients can eat are only limited. The next step in the procedure is to rearrange the small intestine. It is done so the small intestine connects to both stomach pouches.
With mini gastric bypass surgery, a narrow tube on the right side of the stomach is created and connected to the small intestine. The small intestine is looped and hooked in the tube created. Other than the reduced amount of food that the stomach can hold, the procedure also causes malabsorption. Calories found in food are not digested and absorbed by the body. This helps speed up the weight loss of patients.
Benefits
Mini gastric bypass has a lot of benefits compared to other types of gastric bypass. For one, the procedure is faster and easier. This can also mean that there are less complications. When it comes to weight loss surgeries, the faster and less-invasive the procedure, the safer it is.
This is one of the reasons why mini gastric bypass is a popular choice for weight loss procedures nowadays. The procedure also has less risk of having bile reflux as a side effect. This is because the small intestine is connected on the lower part of the stomach, farther from the esophagus. Studies suggest that the closer the small intestine to the esophagus is, the higher the risk of having more complications.
Mini gastric bypass also has faster and easier recovery process. Patients do not suffer from serious complications too. This is why it is a preferred procedure by patients.
Side Effects
Like the traditional gastric bypass, mini gastric bypass can also cause side effects, most of which are nutrient deficiencies. Patients are at risk of developing deficiencies with iron, Vitamin D, and even Vitamin B.
These side effects can later cause more serious health problems. To prevent them, it is necessary for patients to take bariatric multivitamins. This will help them maintain a healthy body while reducing risks of deficiencies.
While mini gastric bypass has the same effects as traditional gastric bypass, it is important to note that it might not have the same immediate results of weight loss.
