Skip to Main Content
Call (770) 500-3660
(770) 500-3660Alpharetta, GA 30022
(770) 500-3660Canton, Georgia 30115
5755 North Point ParkwayAlpharetta, GA 30022
470 Northside Cherokee BlvdCanton, Georgia 30115
Accessibility
Driving Directions
5755 North Point ParkwayAlpharetta, GA 30022
470 Northside Cherokee BlvdCanton, Georgia 30115
Contact Us
Appointment Request
Call (770) 500-3660
(770) 500-3660Alpharetta, GA 30022
(770) 500-3660Canton, Georgia 30115
Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgery Institute, P.C
Bariatric & General Surgery
Expert Care, Outstanding Results
Push-Ups banner
Bariatric Surgery

All About Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

#bypass surgery#roux-en-y gastric bypass
Apr 14 • 4 minute read
article image

If you or a loved one have been recommended gastric bypass surgery, you likely have some questions. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery is one of the most commonly performed bariatric procedures throughout the U.S. In most cases, it is performed as a laparoscopic procedure where a tiny, telescope-like camera is inserted through a small incision made in the abdomen. This can also be done as an open procedure, where a larger, midline incision is made in the abdomen.

This type of gastric bypass surgery involves reducing the size of your stomach to a pouch about the size of an egg. This is done by fastening the upper section of your stomach. Doing so reduces the amount of food that you can consume. The surgeon proceeds to attach the smaller stomach (pouch) to a section of your small intestine known as the Roux Limb, forming a Y shape. When you consume food, it bypasses a large portion of your stomach and the upper section of your small intestine. This decreases the number of calories and fat that get absorbed into your bloodstream but also reduces the intake of essential vitamins and minerals.

When Would I Need Roux-en-Y Weight-Loss Surgery?

Roux-en-Y bypass surgery is used to treat patients with severe obesity. It is one of the bariatric procedures that your doctor may recommend if you’ve not had any success with a healthier diet and exercise regimen. Your doctor may recommend this procedure if you have conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, or sleep apnea.

6 Benefits of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery

Below are six of the most common benefits of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery.

  1. Improvement in Comorbidities – For patients who have conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, and sleep apnea, this surgery helps alleviate risks and significantly reduce symptoms.
  2. Increases Longevity – Since this surgery helps reduce health risks associated with obesity, it can also help improve your lifespan.
  3. Fewer Incisions and Scarring – Our surgeons use a laparoscopic technique, which means the incisions are much smaller, promoting improved healing and reduced scarring.
  4. Improves Quality of Life – Patients who undergo this gastric bypass surgery often experience improved mobility, improved blood sugar levels, less stress, better sleep, and other health benefits. They can also better participate in social activities such as sports, which may help with depression.
  5. Rapid Weight Loss – Due to the intense calorific restriction, immediate weight loss is common after surgery.
  6. Long-term Weight Loss – This procedure is specifically designed to promote lasting weight loss.

How Do I Prepare for a Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery?

Your doctor must ensure that you are a good candidate for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. This is an intricate and life-changing procedure that is not recommended for those with substance or alcohol abuse. This surgery is also not recommended if you are not committed to a lifelong lifestyle change in a better diet and exercise.

Before undergoing surgery, we will educate and prepare you for the procedure. This involves conducting a series of physical exams and nutritional counseling, and we may also need to perform a psychological evaluation. We will also discuss how you can expect your life to be after surgery.

Before scheduling your procedure, we will first try to work with you on losing any weight you can as well as help you stop smoking if you are a smoker. This helps make your liver smaller, ensuring a safer operation. You will also need to stop taking blood-thinning medication such as ibuprofen and aspirin days before you undergo surgery. You should not eat or drink anything about twelve hours before the surgery.

What Happens During a Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery?

Just as with any surgery, there are several steps. While undergoing Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery, you can expect the following:

  1. General anesthesia is administered, causing you to sleep through the surgery.
  2. Laparoscopy is the procedure where your surgeon makes small incisions into your abdomen. A laparoscope is inserted, and small surgical tools are placed into these incisions.
  3. The surgeon uses a laparoscopic stapler to form a small pouch from the upper section of your stomach.
  4. The stapler is then used to divide the upper section of your small intestine into a tube.
  5. The Roux limb, which is one end of your small intestine, is connected to the stomach pouch through an anastomosis. The other end of your small intestine is joined to another section of the small intestine.
  6. Your surgeon will then test for leaks by use of an upper endoscopy or dye study.

What Happens After The Surgery?

We will provide you with a detailed post-surgery care plan. This includes instructions on taking medication, bathing, eating, exercising, and sleeping.

The first week after the operation, you may experience abdominal pain and an upset stomach. For the first month, you can only consume small amounts of soft foods. You also need to drink enough water to prevent constipation. To help avoid improper nutrition, our doctors may prescribe vitamin and mineral supplements that you may need to take for the rest of your life.

We are a premier bariatric surgery facility dedicated to providing quality healthcare services to patients with weight issues. Drs. Michael Williams and Brendon Curtis are compassionate general surgeons who use their knowledge and skill to perform this life-changing procedure with precision.

Don’t let obesity get in the way of your life and your health any longer! Contact Atlanta Bariatric & General Surgery to schedule your consultation today!

Recent Articles

General Surgery
Hernia Repair Surgery Aftercare Tips
Aug 11 • 2 minute read
Bariatric Surgery
Why Would I Need an EGD?
Jul 21 • 2 minute read
Weight Loss Surgery
Questions to Ask Before Weight Loss Surgery
Jul 4 • 4 minute read
Categories
Archives

  • In May 2021 I had a mild stroke(T.I.A) at the age of 39!!!! At the time of the stroke the doctors weighed me in at 335 pounds! The day of the surgery which was March 24th of this year I weighed 305 pounds. It hasn't been 6 months, and I lost 121 pounds! I eat plant-based, no bread, sugar, pizza, soda, fried foods as well as no meat. I was on diabetes medication; I had sleep apnea; I was on 3 blood pressure meds; along with 2 cholesterol meds! I'm no longer a diabetic, so I don't need the medication(You can get rid of diabetes!!) I got off all blood pressure, and high cholesterol meds; as well I no longer have sleep apnea (yes you can get rid of sleep apnea!!!!). As well I had zero complications from the surgery!! People will try to give you horror stories about people they know or heard of who had the surgery. HAVE THE SURGERY ANYWAYS!!!!!! Special thanks to Dr. Michael Williams, and his team (Michael Andrews, Dr. Curtis, and Tiffany)! Dr. Michael Williams performed the surgery!

    LLevi I

  • If you're thinking about getting a Bariatric surgery done, I certainly recommend Dr. Williams and Dr. Curtis. They are very knowledgeable and will guide you through your journey.

    I opted to get the sleeve done. My insurance required that I have a 6 month diet plan prior so I went to see Dr. Williams and Dr. Curtis every month to complete this.

    The ladies in the office are also ALL fantastic. They answer any questions you have and make you feel comfortable. I loved getting to see them monthly. They got to know me and my baby (she had to tag along for a lot of the visits) and have made this process an easy one. Rose, who handles the insurance and scheduling of the surgery has also been absolutely wonderful. She helped me to make sure that I could have surgery when my family would be in town.

    Before going anywhere else, make a visit. You certainly will not regret it! It could be the best decision you've ever made. It was for me.

    AAshley N.

  • Dr. Michael Williams is here to help in every way.. He’s extremely confident in his skilled surgical procedure. He puts you at ease and completes his job with excellence...I love the staff and the results! Dr. Michael Williams is the best practice.

    GGeorge C.

  • My bariatric surgery was the best thing I ever did for myself. I went from 252 lbs. to 130 lbs. Went from a size 32 to a size 6. My A1C has been staying in the normal range and I have been able to stop several meds. My GP practically does cartwheels when I come in because I have kept the weight off since 2014

    JJan

  • I had gastric bypass surgery on March 31 2008 and, not to sound cheesy, but it's one of the BEST decisions I've ever made. I was actually pretty healthy prior to having surgery - minus being about 110 lbs over weight - so, as silly as it may seem, my motivation for the operation was about 80% fashion based and 20% of just plain ole tired of being fat! I've always loved clothes and fashion but I absolutely hated shopping. There were only 2... maybe 3 stores I could find clothes in my size. I wanted to be able to walk into any mall and shop in any and every store in the building.

    When people ask me am I happy with the results I can honestly say "Yes!!!". I am now able to do what I wanted to accomplish. My dream was to be a size 12 and I have exceeded my own goal and have maintained my weight for the last 5 months. When you set a personal goal you have to make sure it's just that - personal - because if you base your decision to have this surgery to make someone else happy or if your decision has something to do with an aspect that YOU cannot control, no matter how small you get, you may never be satisfied with the results.

    The first few weeks are hard with all the protein shakes, sugar-free this and that, baby sips, chicken broth, dry mouth, and constant worry if you made the right decision. But, it's SOOOO worth it! I PROMISE! I use to have a pair of size 14 jeans hanging on my wall; they were my "motivation" jeans. I had to give them away to Goodwill last year because they were to big - THAT was my "WOW" moment. I encourage you find one for yourself...

    Weight prior to surgery: 273
    Clothes size: 22
    Shoe size: 11
    Bra size: 40 C/D

    Weight post surgery: 148-151
    Clothes size: 6 or 8
    Shoe size: 10 or 9 1/2 (amazing!!!)
    Bra size: 34 B (not so amazing *sad face*)

    AAnonymous

  • My name is Sharon Clark and for 5 years I struggled with obesity, I was on medications for high blood pressure, diabetes, and my mobility was limited due to severe knee problems.

    I met with Dr. Michael Williams in September of 2019 and he explained the weight loss options available to me and we decided that the gastric sleeve was the best option for me. I had my surgery on December 30, 2019, and I must say that this was the best decision I could have made for myself.

    To date, I have lost 109 pounds, I no longer have high blood pressure, or diabetes, and I am able to walk without any assistance, this surgery has truly changed my life. I would like to thank Dr. Michael Williams and his staff for their support during this journey.

    SSharon Clark

  • I have been a patient of Dr. Michael Williams for almost 7 years and I have always had the best care and outcome from him.

    In September 2013 I had the gastric sleeve procedure. I weighed 300 lbs, had sleep apnea, and high blood pressure. My blood sugar was also high. After the surgery, I was on 3 weeks of a liquid diet then I slowly added soft foods. I have lost 100 lbs and have kept it off. My sleep apnea is gone, I have no more high blood pressure and my blood sugar is normal.

    I'm very grateful to Dr. Williams for giving me a second chance at a healthier life. I have referred several of my friends to him, and they have all had a successful outcome from their surgeries.

    If you're thinking about having a weight loss procedure done, I would highly recommend Dr. Michael Williams.

    LLinda

  • I’m simply going to say that I’ll be looking forward to being able to enjoy some extra years with my beautiful and loving wife of 43 years.


    MY JOURNEY

    22-Mar-2007:
    K305-0 / W314-0
    Had lap-band surgery.

    2-May-2007:
    K270-35
    My band was tightened to 4.0cc and I have lost a total of 35 lbs. since 22-Mar-2007.

    8-Jun-2007:
    W276-38
    My band was tightened to 6.0cc.

    17-Jul-2007:
    W269-45
    My band was tightened to 7.0cc.

    17-Aug-2007:
    K255-50
    My total weight loss is now 50 lbs. I have definitely changed the type of food that I eat and the quantity of such. I can really eat anything that I want, but I seem to gravitate to ground steak, fish & chicken with a small amount of vegetables.

    04-Oct-2007:
    K250.0-55.0
    My total weight loss is now 55 lbs. and I have stayed there for the past 6-weeks. I’ve gone from a size 3XL shirt to a size XL. My waist size is now 44” – down from 52”. My blood studies look great. I’m no longer Diabetic! My recent Stress Test was outstanding for my age.

    07-Nov-2007:
    W256-58
    It was decided that another 0.5cc (7.5cc total) should be added to my band. Now if I eat too fast, my small stomach will hurt for about a minute or less. However, I can still eat a normal restaurant sized meal, if, I skip the salad & bread. My blood pressure is now normal – 115/70 to 130/80.

    03-Mar-2008:
    K245-60 / W253-61
    It was decided to add another 0.5cc to my band. Dr. William says that I now have 8.5cc total. I now notice that I’m belching more and seem to be eating smaller food portions.

    22-Apr-2008:
    I had a facelift, eyelid & browlift surgery - $14,000! No question about it, I look 15 years younger from the front and 68 from the rear. My 03-Mar-2008 tightening has not made any change in weight loss.

    11-Jun-2008
    K247-58 / W260-54
    I put on 5 lbs. during the past 2 months, so another 0.5cc was added to my band, for a total of 9.0cc. 10cc is normal and the band can be overfilled to a max of 12cc. My weight gain has been caused by eating too many calories – that simple. I notice that I’m now belching after I swallow a mouthful of water. The extra added 0.5cc hasn’t had any affect on my weight loss.

    20-Aug-2008
    K262-43 / W266-48
    At this point in my life, it’s very obvious that the Lap-Band is nothing more than a tool to help me loose weight. Because of lower-back problems, I have not been exercising on a regular basis. So, I end up sitting in front of my computer all day and snacking. Today Dr. Williams is going to add another 0.5cc to my band for a total of 9.5cc.

    20-May-2009
    K255-50 / W262-52
    A decision was made to add more Saline to my lap-band. My total is now 9.65cc. I now notice that I’m belching a little more than usual and eating a little less. I’m told that belching is good. Dr. Williams is talking about going to the normal 10.0cc level, but I’m not sure I want to do that. When I question his reasoning, he just smiles and ask me how often how often do I vomit – I don’t know what makes him think that I want to start... 19-Sep-2009 - Since this last adjustment, I have not loss or gained any weight. It's basically because I'm not being selective when it comes to the type of food that I'm shoving in the orifice below my nose...

  • Dr Williams is a wonderful surgeon. I'm so very grateful for all the time, hard work, and effort he made in order to become a physician and help save lives. I had a ruptured appendix and peritonitis and he took excellent care of me. Just prior to my surgery, I had multiple nurses tell me that he is the surgeon they would pick for their loved ones and that he is awesome. I agree completely. He personally checked on me every day I was in the hospital even on the weekend. For the follow up, I had no wait time. Please keep in mind the nature of his job, emergency surgeries become priority and could affect wait times which would not be his fault.
    Thank you, Dr Williams. I appreciate you and will keep you and your family in my prayers. I am extremely grateful that you helped save my life.

    JJen Gillespie

  • Dr. Williams is a very skilled surgeon. While I was at Northside Cherokee many nurses discussed he would be the one to do their surgery. I had a gastric sleeve. Don’t expect a fabulous bedside manner, he is not talkative. But he is more than willing to answer your questions without seeming rushed. I am five daysPost surgery and have really had no complications Related to the surgery. I was surprised though that neither of the hospital nor the doctors office have called to see how I am.

    SSuzanne F.

Ready for your first appointment?
Skip to content