.--Weight Loss

Gastric reduction surgery works by creating the sensation that you are full, comfortable and satisfied. Filling the pouch with a small meal feels the same as having your normal stomach full with a large meal. The stretch on the pouch walls appears to send signals to the base of the brain that generate a feeling of satisfaction. The small pouch and rearrangement of the bowel also effectively stop one from eating too much at any given meal. One bite beyond satisfaction creates a "stuffed" feeling. One bite after that causes nausea and yet another causes discomfort and vomiting. The rearrangement of the bowel in the Gastric Bypasses play an important role in preventing patients from eating or drinking high calorie foods. It is common for patients to experience an unpleasant sensation when eating sweets and drinking high calorie liquids. In medical jargon, this is called "dumping." In procedures, in which gastric bypass is not done like the adjustable gastric banding and vertical banded gastroplasty, are less effective weight loss operations.

By eating only at mealtime and only until you feel full, your daily food intake should decrease enough to provide weight loss of as much as five to ten pounds per week during the first six weeks. Your weight loss should continue at a rate of one to five pounds per week for several months. The rate at which you will lose will decrease gradually until you reach a stable weight. This is generally somewhat above your ideal weight. However, you can lose additional weight if you make a more concerted effort. Many factors influence weight loss. Among the most important are your age, sex, ethnic group and weight at the time of the surgery. Patients who are extremely overweight have more to lose and consequently lose more.

For greater success, the operation should be accompanied by the eating habits that include the selection of nutritious foods and the proper spacing of meals. The small pouch and the rearrangement of the bowel make this easier because it helps to eliminate hunger pangs and places a limit on the amount you can eat at one time. All patients who have undergone Banded-gastric bypass have lost weight. Five years after surgery, our patients have lost an average of 128 Ibs. and 97% have lost more than 50% of their excess weight. In obesity surgery, a successful operation is one which results the loss of 40% or more of excess weight.