Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery

UW Health's Surgical Weight Management surgery team performs gastric bypass or Roux-en-Y surgery, the most common surgery in the U.S. This procedure may be done either through an open approach (large incision) or via the more common laparoscopic approach.

The Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery Procedure

During the operation, surgical staples are used to create a small pouch at the top of the stomach. A segment of the small intestine is then attached to this pouch.

Food bypasses most of the stomach and the first part of the small intestine. Most patients typically have a one- to three-night hospital stay.

Benefits of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass operation helps you lose weight by:

• Caloric restriction: The small pouch created can hold only two to four tablespoons at a time, thereby drastically reducing the amount of food that can be eaten.
• Nutrient malabsorption: Food bypasses a large portion of the stomach and the first portion of the intestine.

Additional benefits of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass include:

• Significicant hormonal changes for hunger and glycemic control
• Immediate and robust weight loss (six to seven pounds per week in the first six to 12 months)
• It is the most durable procedure for long-term weight loss