The Gastric Bypass Procedure
Gastric bypass changes the anatomy of the gastrointestinal tract by reducing the size of the stomach and altering the path food takes. Our doctor uses a laparoscopic technique, which is a less invasive method with fewer scars, a shorter hospital stay, and quicker recovery times. Surgery is performed with the patient under anesthesia.
During the procedure, Dr. Doucette will divide the stomach into an upper and lower portion. This will create a smaller upper stomach (pouch), and bypass the lower stomach and the beginning of the intestine. The smaller upper part of the stomach is then connected to the middle of the small intestine. The lower stomach and the beginning of the intestine is then reconnected further down to the intestine. The stomach is left smaller and the digestive tract shorter. As a result, after surgery, patients will feel full faster because there is less room for food and have less hunger as a result of the changes in hunger hormones.