Many people know the frustration of taking an outfit out of the wardrobe and discovering it doesn’t fit and we’ve all struggled with trying to avoid unhealthy foods and get enough exercise. There are more diets than one can shake a stick at, weight loss drinks, swimming classes and gym but it can be an uphill fight to lose weight.

Excessive weight gain can cause health problems like chronic fatigue, breathlessness, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke so if you want to lose weight but you haven’t made the progress you would have liked and you’re morbidly obese, gastric bypass surgery may be an option.

Gastric bypass surgery is a type of weight-loss surgery that reduces the size of your stomach so that it can’t hold as much food. This means you will only be able to eat smaller meals.

The Operation

A small pouch is created at the top of your stomach. This is then connected to your small intestine, bypassing the rest of the stomach and upper intestine.

The procedure is done by laparoscopy (keyhole) technique and you will be given a general anaesthetic. It takes between one and three hours to complete.

Gastric bypass surgery usually causes a weight loss of up to 60-70%. It can also reverse type 2 diabetes and lower your blood pressure if it’s too high.

You will normally stay in a hospital for two or three days after your operation.

Side-Effects

There are some side-effects associated with the surgery – for instance, feeling sick after you eat, diarrhoea, malnutrition from a restricted diet and very excessive weight loss. You may need to take multi-vitamin supplements for the remainder of your life.

Then there are the usual effects of surgery such as bruising, swelling, blood clots and reactions to the anaesthetic. Choosing an experienced surgeon is vital to minimise risks.

Visit the London Obesity Clinic

If you are considering having gastric bypass surgery, you should visit the London Obesity Clinic. Mr Sanjay Agrawal is a specialist bariatric surgeon at London’s Homerton University Hospital. He has performed over 550 bariatric keyhole operations. He is a designated ‘Bariatric Surgeon of Excellence’ and is the only gastric surgeon in the UK to achieve this distinction.

For expert help in losing weight from a seasoned professional, the London Obesity Clinic is your best choice.