Long-term effects of gastric bypass surgery

If you are thinking about gastric bypass surgery, you want to know what the results of gastric bypass surgery are.
You want to know approximately how much you can lose and the long-term effects.
Dr. Edo Aarts, gastrointestinal surgeon at WeightWorks, has successfully performed thousands of operations. He is also involved in scientific research on gastric reductions. “Today, through research, much is known about the results of all types of gastric reductions. Every year more than one million people in the world get gastric reduction surgery.” In this article, we discuss the long-term results, benefits, and risks of various gastric reduction surgeries.

Long-term comparison gastric reduction surgery

The oldest surgery still commonly done today is the Roux-en-Y Gastric bypass (first 1953), also called “classic bypass.
This surgery has been performed frequently, but only extra frequently since the advent of keyhole surgery.
In 1993, the first One Anastomosis Gastric Bypass was done.
This is also called the “mini bypass.
Not much later, the first Sleeve was done.
Today there are many studies comparing different types of gastric bypass surgery.
When comparing long-term results, it is sometimes quite difficult to make sense of them because:

• The surgeries were not always done the same way.
  For example, more or less stomach was taken out, or bowel bypassed.
• Most studies focus on the first few years after surgery.
  People are still in good shape then and show up to appointments nicely.
  Because things often go so well, people have less need for doctor’s checkups after the first few years.
• The effects of mini gastric bypass have now been known for about 25 years.
  Those of the classic bypass longer.
  Of the Sleeve, the least is still known, about 15 years.
  The Sleeve has only been performed frequently for 15 years.

Stomach reduction results; which stomach reduction has the best results?

Research has shown that bypasses (mini- and gastric bypass) work best in the long run to maintain weight. You always gain a few pounds after you lose weight.
Especially with the Sleeve you see that people gain the most weight.
This is the case for a quarter of the people.
In the first 5 years after surgery, results for mini bypass and classic bypass are the same.
People lose about 30% of total weight.
For the Sleeve, it’s about 20% of your total weight.

Long-term medical consequences of gastric bypass surgery

You will be more successful after gastric bypass surgery if you make lifestyle changes.
You’re going to eat about 25 to 33% fewer calories.
You’re also going to work on taking 10,000 steps daily.
People who maintain a healthy lifestyle and come back regularly for checkups really do better.
They have a lower weight than people who do not cooperate well with aftercare.
Aftercare helps maintain lifestyle changes over the long term.
That way you can make sure you don’t gain weight again. The 5 most important long-term stomach reduction results:

• Weight loss in the first two years: After a bypass you will lose about 30% of your total weight, after a sleeve about 20%.
  So if you weigh 100 kilos and you follow the recommendations, you will lose 30 kilos with a bypass and 20 kilos with a sleeve.
  With all operations you will gain a few pounds afterwards.
• Weight loss 10 years after gastric bypass: Eventually, most people (90%) manage to keep more than half of their excess weight off.
  They manage this for more than 10 years. No other treatment achieves that result. New techniques are constantly improving the results.
• Increased life expectancy: In studies, they show that by having a stomach reduction, you live an average of 9 years longer!
  Therefore, if you lose a lot of weight, you can live much longer.
• Improve health: A stomach reduction helps improve or even eliminate diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea.
  If you lose a lot of weight, the risk of cancer is also much lower.
  Finally, you have a much lower chance of cardiovascular disease.
• Psychological: Research shows that after gastric reduction, psychological symptoms such as depression, anxiety and eating disorders (binge eating) decrease.
  Of course, you must keep in mind that this can be different for everyone.

What are possible long-term risks of gastric bypass surgery?

Looking at how your health can improve after gastric bypass surgery is obviously very good news.
Still, it is good to consider certain risks.
This is true of any surgery. The 7 main stomach reduction risks are:

• Vitamin deficiency: If you are missing part of the stomach and have an intestinal bypass, it is more difficult to absorb certain vitamins and minerals.
  As a result, you can develop vitamin deficiencies.
  This then often leads to anemia, as well as nerve inflammation.
  You may notice this by having no feeling in fingers or toes.
  After gastric bypass surgery, therefore, you must take special vitamins and calcium tablets (Calcium) for life.
  Research shows that people find it difficult to take vitamins for life.The 5 main reasons for not taking vitamins after a stomach reduction are: – Forgetting to take them daily, – Side effects in stomach/intestines -An unpleasant taste/odor of vitamins, – The cost – People have no symptoms so think it is not necessary

Even if you yourself think it is not necessary, it is still important to take the vitamins prescribed by the doctor.
You do this to prevent problems.
To make sure you detect deficiencies quickly you should have blood tests after 6 months and every year thereafter

• Gastric ulcer: An ulcer can develop at the site of the bypass from stomach to small intestine.
  Smoking increases the risk of this, so it is important to quit.
  A smoker has a 25% chance of getting an ulcer and you really don’t want that.
  It is very painful and takes months to get better.
• Internal rupture: The small intestine is partially relocated (gastric bypass).
  This creates more space in the abdomen.
  This space allows the intestine to rotate around itself.
  With surgery, this can be easily fixed.
  The chance of this happening in your lifetime is 2%.
  You usually see it 1 to 3 years after surgery.
• Scar fracture: A scar fracture is an opening in the abdominal wall that occurs where the scars are after stomach reduction surgery.
  We don’t want you to get this fracture.
  That’s why we ask you not to exercise or do much heavy lifting (more than 10 pounds) for 2 to 3 weeks.
  For small fractures that do not cause any symptoms, surgery is not necessary.
  If there is a larger fracture with symptoms, surgery may be necessary.
• Gallstones: People who lose a lot of weight are more likely to get gallstones.
  This can cause pain.
  About 8% of patients get gallbladder removal.
  This is done with keyhole surgery.
• Alcohol addiction: after gastric bypass surgery, you see that some people look for other unhealthy habits instead of eating.
  Alcohol addiction is then more common.
  Alcohol is absorbed into the blood faster after a stomach reduction.
  You also get drunk faster.
  After 1 glass of alcohol, most people already feel tipsy and cannot drive.
  Therefore, it is important to be careful when drinking alcohol after the gastric bypass.
  We recommend: in the 6 months after surgery, do not drink alcohol.
• Suicidality/self-harm: A portion of people who want gastric bypass surgery have psychological symptoms.
  About 30% of people.
  Examples include depression, anxiety, eating disorders or addiction problems.
  Sometimes the symptoms are there right now, sometimes they were there before.
  Studies show that the risk in self-harm and suicide is higher in people with gastric bypass if you suffer from psychological symptoms.
  Losing a lot of weight makes you healthier, and often psychological symptoms get better, but this is not true for everyone.
  If people have psychological symptoms, sometimes the advice is to start treatment with a psychologist before surgery.

To reduce the risk of risks after gastric bypass surgery, it is important to attend check-up appointments that are part of the treatment process.
It is also necessary to follow advice on lifestyle, taking vitamins and medication.

Will I feel better in my skin after gastric bypass surgery?

Weight loss can greatly improve your body image and self-image.
Because you can move more easily, people start doing more activities again.
They are less held back by physical complaints.
Being more active is easier.
There is often less shame in being seen by others.
This can make you feel nice and lead to more self-confidence.
Yet there are also things that are sometimes not so pleasant.
When you lose weight rapidly in a short period of time, you may have extra skin left over.
If you are younger, this is less likely to happen than if you are older.
This is because your skin recovers a little easier.
Skin excess, or excess skin, can be annoying.
It can lead to poorer body image and less self-confidence.
It can also get in your way.
You can have surgery for this.
In the Netherlands about 1 in 3 people have some removed by a plastic surgeon.
Often this operation is not covered by the insurance company.
If you are an emotion eater, it is important that you learn to deal with feelings in a different way.
This can be done, for example, with the help of a psychologist.
We do not want you to look for other means to get rid of agitation after the operation.
Such as alcohol or smoking.

Can you grow old with gastric bypass surgery?

Yes, you can actually get very old with gastric bypass surgery.
You lose a lot of weight and suffer less disease.
Also, if you are at a healthy weight, the risk of disease is lowered.
On average, a patient with gastric bypass surgery actually lives nine years longer because you become so much healthier.

I now know more about the effects of gastric bypass surgery; how can I schedule an appointment at WeightWorks?

As you can read, a lot of information is already known about the consequences of gastric bypass surgery.
If you are thinking about gastric bypass surgery, you want to know where you stand.
You want to know if exciting things can happen in the long run.
You’re also curious about how it can improve your life.
During the process at WeightWorks, the surgeons give an information session.
There you will get a lot of information about the different types of surgery.
You can ask questions about the consequences of a stomach reduction.
You will also discuss which operation is best for you and your physical health.
We will try to answer your questions as best we can.
If you want to come to WeightWorks for a consultation, you can discuss a referral with your doctor.

Want to know if you qualify for gastric bypass surgery?

Then do the quick scan! Find out quickly and easily if gastric bypass surgery may be an option for you by doing our quick scan.
It’s a handy tool that will help you assess whether you meet the criteria for gastric bypass surgery.