Gastric bypass surgery is a type of bariatric weight loss surgery that creates a very small stomach and allows food to bypass parts of the digestive system, thus reducing the amount of calories a person absorbs and restricting the amount of calories a person can consume.
Weight-loss Side Effects
New York University (NYU) Medical Center estimates that approximately 60 to 80 percent of excess body weight is lost within the first two years after surgery. After weight loss begins, co-morbid illnesses like diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are lessened.
Nutritional Side Effects
Lactose intolerance occurs after this surgery as well. Lactase, which helps break down dairy products, does not get to the food well after gastric bypass. This can cause diarrhea, gas and cramping.
Nutritional deficiencies are also a side effect of gastric bypass surgery because the food does not go into the part of the small intestine where nutrients are absorbed. Making sure to eat nutritious foods, taking supplements and vitamins and seeing your doctor for regular follow-ups can help prevent or ameliorate this issue.
Temporary hair loss or thinning may occur in the first few months after surgery due to rapid weight loss and lack of protein. Eating more protein and having a stable weight can help this.
Gastrointestinal Side Effects
Gastric bypass surgery creates a very small stomach, causing you to get full faster, enabling you to eat less. If, after the surgery, you eat after you are full, pain is probably going to occur, as is nausea. Learning to eat slowly, chewing thoroughly and stopping when you are full will make these episodes less likely to happen. Another side effect is called dumping syndrome, according to the NYU medical center. This is when the stomach contents go into the small intestine quickly, and it causes sweating, nausea, palpitations and weakness.
Along with food intake changes, gastric bypass surgery also impacts digestion, so constipation or diarrhea may occur.
Other Physical Side Effects
Loss of muscle mass often occurs after gastric bypass surgery, because you are taking in less calories and protein, and your body uses muscle to gain energy, instead of burning fat. By exercising and making sure to eat enough protein, this effect can be lessened.
The risk of gallstones is increased because of the rapid weight loss associated with gastric bypass surgery. The NYU Medical Center estimates that approximately one out of 10 people who have had gastric bypass will need gallbladder removal surgery.
Risks
There are risks associated with every medical procedure, and gastric bypass surgery is no exception. According to the Mayo Clinic, various risks associated with gastric bypass surgery include death, blood clot formation in the legs and pneumonia. These risks tend to be higher in highly overweight individuals or those with more medical conditions prior to surgery.
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