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Patients who choose weight-loss surgery must be willing to comply with restrictions regarding diet and exercise before and after their procedure. Surgery is only one part of a comprehensive weight loss process.

Preparation
In preparation for surgery, our specialists will meet with the patient to discuss pre-operative and post-operative details. Patients must be able to engage in exercise and comply with a restricted diet, which requires careful attention to food selection and overeating. It is essential to carefully follow diet and exercise guidelines prior to surgery prepare for a regimented diet after the surgery. Our dieticians and physical therapists will work with the patient to develop individual meals plans and fitness goals for before and after the surgery.

Patients are also encouraged to speak with other individuals who have had weight-loss surgery to better understand the benefits and the long-term lifestyle changes that must be made. 

Procedure
Laparoscopic surgery and open gastric bypass surgery modify the patient’s digestive tract so that fewer calories from food are absorbed. The surgeons use laparoscopic or open procedures to “bypass” specific parts of the digestive system.

Surgeons use staples to cut 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 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.

Most patients are treated with minimally-invasive techniques. However, depending on the patient’s specific condition, our weight-loss specialists may recommend a standard surgical technique, which uses a larger, single incision to perform the gastric bypass operation.

Recovery
Patients typically spend one day in the hospital after open gastric bypass surgery. Depending on the patient’s condition, medical history and type of operation performed, total recovery time is approximately two to six weeks.

Patients must adhere to pre-planned food restriction immediately. A dietician continues to work the patient to address issues related the diet plan, such as foods that might cause discomfort. A bariatric specialist provides patients with precise plans for diet and fitness activities that will help enable success and reduce the risk of any complications.

UT Southwestern also sponsors a support group for patient who have had weight-loss surgery. The group helps patients cope with the emotional experiences and lifestyle changes that are a part of an effective weight loss program. For more information, call 214-645-2900.