The Roux en Y Gastric Bypass Requirements

Being overweight is definitely not easy. Yet thanks to modern medicine there are weight loss surgery options that are available to help those who are obese and cannot lose weight through dieting. All bariatric procedures require that certain stipulations be met and there are several different operations to choose from. Some are very invasive and require long recovery times, such as with the traditional Roux en Y gastric bypass operation. Others, like the laparoscopic Lap Band procedure are not quite as difficult to recover from.

Prior to 1993, when the first laparoscopic Roux en Y procedure was performed, there was only the Roux en Y gastric bypass operation. The laparoscopic version of the RNY is considerably less invasive than its predecessor. It only requires a few small incisions versus a long incision that required a longer hospital stay and an even longer recovery time. The operation is also shorter and requires less sedation than the typical RNY surgery. But before you go gung ho on this surgical idea there are a few things you have to consider.

Before you can have the laparoscopic Roux en Y procedure you must first meet some basic requirements. The first is that you have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of forty or higher. If you have medical conditions that necessitate weight loss surgery, then you can have a BMI of thirty-five. You must also meet with a physician, therapist and a nutritionist to determine if you have the fortitude to withstand the rigorous lifestyle changes that must be met in order to be successful with this type of weight loss method.

These changes mean that you will no longer be able to eat the way you did previously. For the first few weeks you will be on an all liquid diet, with protein shakes. Later, you can progress to certain low diet soft foods. But there will still be foods that you will be unable to eat. Some post-operative patients find that they cannot handle certain red meats or dairy products on the gastric bypass diet. How well you tolerate the diet will be determined after the procedure and through trial and error.

There were a staggering one hundred and forty thousand weight loss operations performed in 2005. Each year, more and more people are opting for the operating room, in order to lose unwanted pounds. They have tried all of the diet programs and have exercised but still cannot lose that extra weight that is endangering their lives. If you are weighing your weight loss surgery options and have decided to try the Roux en Y gastric bypass surgery, then you are not alone. It may not be enough to keep the weight off but with the right diet program and exercise regime, you can see dramatic results.