Advantages and disadvantages of gastric bypass: pros and cons to consider

Are you considering the pros and cons of gastric bypass? Are you interested in being much clearer about whether it is the weight loss operation you need? 

Like any other bariatric surgerythe gastric bypass has particular advantages and disadvantages that should be considered before undergoing one, especially to ensure that you get the results you are looking for.

So in this post we will tell you what are the main advantages and disadvantages of gastric bypass.

Advantages of gastric bypass

Among the main advantages of gastric bypass, the following should be highlighted:

1. It is one of the most effective weight loss surgeries available.

Gastric bypass is one of the most effective bariatric surgeries, which means that in most cases it achieves the expected results, to a greater extent than bariatric operations such as gastric bypass. gastric sleeve or the gastric balloonwhich do not always produce the same weight loss and are more susceptible to the rebound effect.

2. It allows you to lose up to 80% of excess weight.

A gastric bypass can help you lose between 70 and 80% of excess weight, so you could lose between 40 and 90 kilograms in total. Although this will also depend on how well you adhere to the treatment and the indications of your bariatricWith the bypass, you will almost certainly lose much, if not all, of your excess weight.

3. Decreases the symptoms and effects of overweight-related ailments.

As highlighted by the Mayo Clinicgastric bypass can help in the treatment of symptoms related to overweight, such as:

• Hypertension
• Heart problems
• Type 2 diabetes
• Sleep apnea

So not only does it allow you to lose excess weight, but it addresses those health problems that may be affecting you right now, while preventing the onset of diseases such as cancer.

4. Increases life expectancy

Having a body mass index (BMI) greater than 35 usually leads to the development of multiple conditions due to excess weight. These conditions can significantly shorten your life expectancy. 

By reducing excess weight to healthy levels, a gastric bypass can significantly improve your life expectancy.

5. Improve your quality of life

By solving your overweight problems, a gastric bypass can greatly improve your quality of life, since you will no longer have to deal with the physical and mental problems related to being overweight.

You will be able to recover your well-being, you will be less susceptible to diseases, and many of the ailments you suffer from due to your overweight will disappear, such as sleep apnea or hypertension, as demonstrated by a study published in 2023.

Disadvantages of gastric bypass

Although it has notable benefits, gastric bypass has very specific disadvantages that you should consider before undergoing this procedure:

1. You will have to add nutritional supplements to your diet for life.

Gastric bypass is a malabsorptive technique, which means that after having the procedure, your body will be less efficient in absorbing certain nutrients and food elements. 

While this helps you lose weight efficiently, it will also make you need certain supplements on an ongoing basis so that your body receives all the nutrients it needs.

Moreover, you will need to take such supplements for life to ensure that you stay healthy and avoid deficiencies of minerals, vitamins or other essential nutrients for your body.

2. It is a complex intervention

Although the risks of gastric bypass can be minimized when the procedure is performed by an experienced bariatric surgeon, they should not be completely ruled out. During the procedure, there is the normal risk of any delicate surgical procedure in an area as important as the stomach.

Adverse effects, such as more serious problems with the absorption of some nutrients, may also occur after the procedure.

Therefore, given the complexity of the intervention, it is usually riskier than other less invasive procedures such as gastric balloon, for example. 

Now that you know the pros and cons of gastric bypass you can get an idea of whether it is the type of procedure you are looking for. 

In any case, keep in mind that it will be your bariatric surgeon, after an exhaustive study of your case, who will indicate with more certainty which bariatric procedure would be more convenient for you. 

Make sure you familiarize yourself with the gastric bypass price to find out if it is within your budget and learn more about how the before and after gastric bypass so that you have a clear idea of what to expect if you were to have one done.

And if you have already decided to recover your excess weight and leave behind all the health problems it generates, contact us. via email o via WhatsApp and we tell you how we can help you.