Gastric Bypass

The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is considered the gold standard of weight-loss surgery available today. This procedure uses special staples to create a small stomach pouch—about the size of an egg—to bypass some of the small intestine, restricting food intake and limiting absorption of calories and nutrients.

What’s more, gastric bypass changes the hormones secreted by the gastrointestinal tract that can decrease hunger. These hormones are believed to have a specific effect on type 2 diabetes—so many patients who undergo gastric bypass see their type 2 diabetes resolve.

You will typically lose 60-70 percent of your excess weight during the first year after gastric bypass surgery.

If I undergo a Gastric Bypass, what happens to the other side of my stomach?
That part of the stomach, called the “gastric remnant,” will no longer see the flow of food but will still function as part of the digestive process. The juices secreted by the gastric remnant will act on the food, but just farther downstream.

Is the Gastric Bypass reversible?
Yes. Reversal is not a common procedure, but one that our surgeons have performed several times in special cases.

Do the staples stay in? Will I set off metal detectors? Can I have an MRI?
The staples used in a gastric bypass are very small and made of titanium, so they do not generally cause metal detectors or MRIs to react.

Types of Surgery

Sleeve Gastrectomy

Sleeve gastrectomy involves permanently removing approximately two-thirds of the stomach to limit food intake—helping you feel full sooner. This procedure is newly recognized as a primary procedure for weight loss.

Early results show the weight loss from sleeve gastrectomy to be midway between that of gastric banding and gastric bypass.

What if I experience a major problem after the Sleeve Gastrectomy procedure?
While such issues are uncommon, if you experience a major problem that requires more surgery, most times we perform a gastric bypass conversion. In this way, consenting for a sleeve gastrectomy means you are willing to undergo a gastric bypass, if necessary.

Do the staples stay in? Will I set off metal detectors? Can I have an MRI?
The staples used in a sleeve gastrectomy are very small and made of titanium, so they generally do not cause metal detectors or MRIs to react.

Single Anastomosis Duodeno-Ileal bypass with Sleeve Gastrectomy (SADi-S)

This newer procedure consists of a sleeve gastrectomy and a bypass of some of the small intestine with a connection between the duodenum and the small intestine. SADi-S is an effective procedure for weight loss and resolution of co-morbidities like type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea. SADi-S is an option for both a primary and a revisional procedure.

Revisional Bariatrics

As the field of bariatric surgery has evolved, surgical techniques and technology have become more refined, ensuring more consistently favorable outcomes. Unfortunately, however, some earlier bariatric surgery patients have subsequently developed problems and need further care—a field known as revisional bariatrics.

While these problems can be challenging, the bariatric surgeons at the Emerson Center for Weight Loss have substantial experience in correcting (revising) the variety of issues that can occur.

If you have suffered problems from a previous bariatric surgery, our team is here to help you. In most cases, these problems can be addressed with revisional bariatric surgical techniques, typically performed laparoscopically, even if the original surgery was an open procedure.

While performing revisional bariatric surgery for individuals who have regained significant weight is not always possible, we will do everything we can to help you regain your health.

To schedule a revisional bariatrics consultation, please call the Emerson Hospital Center for Weight Loss at (978) 287-3532.

Duodenal Switch

A duodenal switch (also referred to as DS or the “switch”) is a more complicated operation primarily offered to very heavy patients at the more extreme end of what is seen. It is the most effective procedure, but can have a higher complication rate. It involves bypassing the majority of the small intestine, so the risk of malabsorption is an important piece. The vitamin issues that doctors are concerned about are more of a concern long-term, but the weight loss results are profound.

The intention of this procedure is to help people who have the most weight to lose and who are typically struggling with severe diabetes. It is not just to lose the weight, but to correct the metabolic problems that are causing them to hold onto weight even more-so than a sleeve gastrectomy and a gastric bypass can.

If a patient has a sleeve and needs to lose more weight, it can be converted to a switch as a second stage to the operation, and with that achieve very good results that are more effective than doing a more complicated operation in the first pass.