Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass

A laparoscopic gastric bypass involves making permanent changes to your digestive tract and is considered as the gold standard operation for weight loss. This is done using the keyhole (laparoscopic) technique through five tiny cuts on the abdomen.

A small pouch is created at the top of your stomach, into which a new opening is made. The first segment of your small intestine is then bypassed, with the remainder of your small intestine joined to the new opening. The rest of your stomach becomes redundant but this doesn't harm it in any way.

Weight loss is achieved in two ways: the amount of food you can physically take in is reduced; and your body absorbs fewer calories from the food you do eat (this is why this is referred to as a restrictive or malabsorptive procedure).

A gastric bypass often produces rapid weight loss which also often results in a rapid improvement and even resolution of health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol in some cases.

• 65-70% average excess weight loss
• Best suited to people with large amounts of weight to lose, severe weight-related health problems, or sweet eating problems
• 2-4 night stay in hospital, back to work within 3-4 weeks
• Available to people with a BMI of over 50