Gastric Bypass

Roux-en-Y, also known as gastric bypass surgery, involves reducing the size of your stomach and rerouting part of your small intestine.

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At Lompoc Valley Medical Center, we offer Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery and sleeve gastrectomy. These two surgery types make up almost 80 percent of all bariatric surgeries performed in the US.

What is Roux-en-Y?

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery involves reducing the size of your stomach and rerouting part of your small intestine. A smaller stomach will allow you to eat smaller food portions and avoid overeating. Having your small intestine rerouted will enable your body to absorb fewer calories from the foods you eat. This weight-loss surgery is both a restrictive and malabsorptive procedure due to the way it restricts portion sizes and prevents your body from absorbing high amounts of calories.

During Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, we staple part of the stomach to create a smaller stomach pouch. Then, we cut part of the small intestine and attach it directly to the stomach pouch so food can bypass parts of the stomach and intestine that absorb the majority of calories.

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery is performed as a minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery, which means it is safer and far less invasive than open surgery. We make a few small incisions instead of one long incision and insert a tiny camera and other surgical tools that provide a clear and precise view of your stomach while we perform the procedure.

Minimally invasive surgery is a technique your doctor will use to perform your weight loss surgery. Your surgeon will make small cuts and use a long, thin camera (called a scope) to make your stomach smaller. More than 95 percent of surgeries are minimally invasive. Having minimally invasive surgery has many benefits that make your surgery and recovery easier. Benefits include the following:

• Less trauma to your skin and soft tissue
• Shorter, less painful recovery
• Less scarring
• Fewer infections and hernias

If you have problems with your incisions (where your surgeon cut into your skin during your surgery), these problems are usually minor.

Common Roux-en-Y Questions

• How many follow-up visits will I need?
  You will need to see your surgeon or physician assistant for a follow-up five times a year for the first year after your gastric bypass. After that, you will need to see your bariatric surgery provider once a year for a follow-up appointment.
• Is the procedure reversible?
  A gastric bypass surgery is difficult to reverse.
• How quickly will I lose weight?
  Patients who have gastric bypass surgery lose weight faster than patients who get adjustable gastric banding. Of all the different weight loss surgeries, patients lose the most weight on average and maintain their weight-loss after gastric bypass.
• What are the side effects?
  Gastric bypass surgery treats heartburn. If you eat large amounts of sugar, you may also have dumping syndrome after getting a gastric bypass. You may also have diarrhea, cramps, and sweating, and your body may have a higher chance of having nutrition deficiencies if you don't take vitamin supplements.

Gastric Sleeve vs Gastric Bypass: What’s the Difference?

Advanced Da Vinci Robotic System

If you are a candidate for bariatric or weight loss surgery, you may be eligible for surgery performed using the da Vinci XI Single Console Robotic System. The da Vinci enables our surgeons to use computer-guided, enhanced 3D visuals to perform many standard procedures.

This advancement in surgical systems typically results in shorter stays, reduced pain, faster recovery time, smaller incisions, and minimal scarring.

SRC-Accreditation

Lompoc Valley Medical Center is an SRC-accredited Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery (COERS)

SRC is a nonprofit patient safety organization that accredits the top hospitals, outpatient facilities and medical providers who excel in patient care.

To achieve accreditation, providers undergo a rigorous, unbiased inspection to ensure they meet nationally and internationally recognized standards of excellence. The inspection evaluates treatment pathways, consultative services, equipment, patient education and support groups, and surgical experience.

Patients can trust SRC’s gold seal to identify healthcare providers who deliver excellence in patient safety and care. The requirements for accreditation programs have been proven to improve outcomes and reduce the time patients spend in the hospital.

Our Bariatric Surgery Program Is Accredited as a Comprehensive Center

The Lompoc Valley Medical Center, bariatric surgery program, has been accredited as a Comprehensive Center by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program, a joint Quality Program of the American College of Surgeons and American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Patients seeking surgical treatment for obesity and related conditions have a high-quality choice for receiving care from our nationally accredited program, which meets the highest standards for patient safety and quality.

Take the Next Step

Your weight loss journey is personal—and it's an important decision. That's why our expert team will work with you to navigate the process from beginning to end and choose the surgical option that fits your needs. We offer a full range of procedures, conveniently in town. We've helped lots of people achieve their goals! Let us help you too.