Commonly asked questions about gastric bypass surgery

Gastric bypass surgery is a very serious surgical option that should only be considered in the direst of circumstances. There are many complications that can arise from the surgery, but at the same time, it's one of the best methods for losing a large amount of weight. In this article, we'll answer some commonly asked questions regarding the surgical procedure so that you can better comprehend the pros and cons of the surgery.

Question: How does gastric bypass surgery affect your level of hunger?
Answer: One of the most effective aspects of the gastric bypass surgery is the fact that for the first six months or so after the surgery, the patient usually experiences a very limited degree of hunger. This can really help the progress of the weight loss, as a decreased caloric intake leads to weight loss. After six months or so, the patient usually begins to get their sense of hunger back, but it isn't usually an intense feeling of hunger, more of just a sign that it's time to eat. Some people do still feel hungry, but it is often due to the feeling of 'head hunger', which is a desire to eat more based on your psychological conditioning to food. Some feel hungry when they eat a high amount of starches, such as pasta or potatoes; this can be remedied by getting more protein in your diet.

Question: How much is my diet going to change if I undergo a gastric bypass procedure?
Answer: Getting gastric bypass surgery changes the amount of food that you consume on a daily basis in a very big way. Immediately after the surgery is performed, strict dietary guidelines are imposed in order to help the stomach to heal properly. The diet that should be followed post-surgery is one that includes one to two fluid ounces per meal. The amount of food that you can eat will slowly increase as your stomach heals, and after twelve to eighteen months, you will reach the maximum amount of food that you can intake. This is usually between four and six ounces. Once the surgery has completely healed, it is generally recommended for the patient to follow a diet that is between 1,200 and 1,800 calories.

Question: What type of results can I come to expect with regards to weight loss from gastric bypass surgery?
Answer: The results of the surgery may vary greatly depending on the individual. However, in most cases, the patient is expected to lose somewhere between seventy five and eighty percent of the excess weight that they had before the surgery. This amount of weight is usually lost by a year after the surgery is performed.

Question: Is gastric bypass surgery covered by insurance?
Answer: While some insurance plans cover the bypass surgery process, others are limited when it comes to weight loss surgeries. To that end, it really depends on the individual insurance plan that you have. Many companies will be willing to pay for the surgery if they can see that you would merit from it from a medical standpoint. They may request a diet history and a psychiatric evaluation in order to determine whether or not the surgery is the best option for you.