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About the Procedure |
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Obesity-related Health Risks |
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Understanding Obesity
Laparoscopic surgery and open gastric bypass surgery modify the patient’s digestive tract so that fewer calories from food are absorbed. Combining a restrictive and malabsorptive approach to weight-loss surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center surgeons use laparoscopic or open procedures to “bypass” specific parts of the digestive system. Our bariatric specialists use specially designed medical staples to close off access to a lower portion of the stomach and create a small, upper pouch to take the place of the stomach.
After bisecting the small intestine, the lower part of the small intestine is attached to the new stomach pouch. Because most calories are absorbed in the upper part of the small intestine (the duodenum) and food intake bypasses the lower part of the stomach, patients lose weight. During the procedure, the upper portion of the small intestine is reattached to the lower small intestine, near the large intestine.
UT Southwestern’s laparoscopic surgeons use small incisions in the abdomen, specialized surgical instruments, a tiny video camera and a video monitor to perform the gastric bypass procedure. This minimally invasive surgery enables patients to reduce their hospital stay, experience less postoperative discomfort and return to work and normal activities in less time.
Depending on the patient’s specific condition, UT Southwestern bariatric specialists may recommend a standard surgical technique, which uses a larger, single incision to perform the gastric bypass operation. Visit our Health Library to learn more about laparoscopic surgery and open gastric bypass surgery.
