gastric bypass

Gastric Bypass



MGB Gastric Bypass:

The MGB (Single Anastamosis Gastric Bypass) was first used in America 16 years ago. It was deemed to be a safe, rapid and effective bariatric operation that yielded excellent results. As it has grown in popularity the worldwide number of procedures has increased significantly.

REY Gastric Bypass:

The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure involves creating a stomach pouch from a small portion of the stomach and attaching it directly to the small intestine, bypassing a large part of the stomach and duodenum. Not only is the stomach pouch too small to hold large amounts of food, but by skipping the duodenum, fat absorption is substantially reduced.

The purpose of the MGB (Single Anastamosis Gastric Bypass) is to create a smaller stomach (a mini stomach) that is long and narrow and that bypasses a section of the small intestine before any food is absorbed. The new mini stomach will hold only a small amount of food which leads to early satiety.

The MGB works by restricting the amount of food that can be eaten at any one time, and by altering the gut hormones involved in appetite control.

The MGB could be your choice of treatment if your BMI is over 35 and you find it impossible to maintain any weight loss in the long term.

The MGB may be a suitable option if you find it hard under any circumstances to exercise discipline with your diet and you would like a long term surgical option, but don’t want an implanted device such as a gastric band.

The MGB is a long term procedure that can be reversed if necessary. It requires little in the way of follow up visits or further intervention so it is ideal for people with busy lifestyles and for those who are less mobile.


The MGB is performed using laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery under general anaesthesia. The operation takes between 60 and 90 minutes and involves a 2 or 3 night stay in hospital.

In the first part of the operation the stomach is divided to create the new mini stomach. This is the restrictive part of the procedure meaning that only a small amount of food can be taken at any one time.

Next, a loop of intestine is joined to the lower part of the mini stomach. This join is called an anastamosis.

Food passes from the mini stomach into the small intestine where it meets digestive juices that have moved downwards from the main stomach. This means that around 2-4m of small intestine is bypassed. This is the hormone altering part of the procedure.

This surgery reduces the size of your upper stomach to a small pouch about the size of an egg. This reduces the amount of food you can eat. The surgeon then attaches this pouch directly to part of the small intestine called the Roux limb. This forms a “Y” shape. The food you eat then bypasses the rest of the stomach and the upper part of your small intestine. This reduces the amount of fat and calories you absorb from the foods you eat.

You may be suitable for the Roux-en-Y if you have tried other weight loss methods without long-term success, if you are severely obese with a body mass index (BMI) over 40 or if you have a BMI between 35 and 40 and a health condition such as sleep apnoea, high blood pressure, heart disease or type 2 diabetes.

The Roux-en-Y is performed using laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery under general anaesthesia. The operation takes between 60 and 90 minutes and involves a 2 or 3 night stay in hospital.

The surgeon will make several small incisions in your abdomen. A laparoscopic stapler is used to make a small stomach pouch with the upper part of your stomach and a stapler is used to divide the upper part of your small intestine into a tube with two ends. One end of the small intestine is brought up to the stomach pouch, and a small connection (anastomosis) is made between them. The other end of the small intestine is then connected to another part of the small intestine.

You will follow a liquid only diet for 4 weeks followed by 4 weeks of soft food. You will progress on to normal food in small portions. You are advised to take 2 weeks off work to ensure that you heal as quickly as possible.

You will have lots of support during this time and for the 12 months following your procedure. The NOSC medical team will guide you through your dietary requirements and our support team will be on hand to keep you motivated and to address any issues you may have.









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