Treatment guide

Gastric Bypass Surgery

The gastric bypass, also known as the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, is a bariatric surgery that works by restricting the amount of food intake in addition to reducing absorptive capacity of food ingested.

The content has been reviewed for quality and accuracy to the best of our knowledge by Qunomedical and its Medical Board of Experts.

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★★★★★Gael D., Germany:
“Qunomedical helped me so much! Thank you!“
★★★★★Gael D., Germany:
“Qunomedical helped me so much! Thank you!“

QUICK DETAILS

WHO IS THIS FOR

  • A gastric bypass is often prescribed for those with a BMI of over 40.

  • May also be recommended for patients with a BMI of 30 and above, who suffer from conditions such as high blood pressure and/or type 2 diabetes

SUCCESS

  • 85% of patients report sustained weight loss of 50% following gastric bypass surgery

  • Complications are reported in 5% of cases, while the procedure has a mortality rate of 0.1%

  • In 10-15% cases the procedure fails, and further bariatric surgery may be needed

RECOVERY TIME

  • Initial hospital stays following gastric bypass surgery last from 1-4 days.

  • Patients generally return to full fitness within 3-5 weeks.

TREATMENT DURATION

  • 1 to 2 week pre-op diet to reduce fat around the stomach and liver after an initial screening process to determine whether suitable for bypass

  • Surgery: 1 to 4 hours

POTENTIAL RISKS & SIDE EFFECTS

  • Constipation

  • Gallstones

  • Dumping syndrome (when certain foods pass too quickly through the gastric tract, leading to nausea and diarrhoea)

  • More serious complications can include internal infections, gastric leakage and blood clots, which occur in roughly 1% of cases

ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS

Before / After Photos

Cost

PRICE CALCULATION

The cost of weight-loss surgery depends on the type of surgery being performed, the complexity of the procedure, the expertise of the surgeon, the general health of the patient, and the country in which the surgery is performed. The pricing differential depends on many factors, such as cost of living, exchange rates, practicing costs or regulatory conditions, which may differ greatly from country to country.

CountryPrice (EUR €)
Lithuania€5,800
Poland€5,990
Czech Republic€6,500
Mexico€7,000
Germany€8,500
United Kingdom€12,400
United States€19,500

How does it work?

Gastric bypass surgery is usually recommended for any adult who has a BMI greater than 40, a BMI greater than 35 with comorbidities linked to obesity, such as type II diabetes, or a BMI greater than 30 with serious health problems.

What is Body Mass Index (BMI) and how do you calculate yours?

This is the formula used to calculate the BMI: Weight in Kilograms / Height squared in Meters or weight (kg) ÷ height^2 (m^2)

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a globally accepted measure of body fat based on the relationship between height and weight.

Below the BMI weight categories:

  • below 18.5 = Underweight

  • 18.5 - 24.9 = Healthy

  • 25 - 29.9 = Overweight

  • 30 - 35 = Obese

  • above 35 = Extremely Obese

BMI calc rsi87r

How does a gastric bypass surgery work?

During the surgery itself (also known as a "Roux-en-Y gastric bypass"), doctors restrict the stomach using surgical staples, leaving a walnut-sized pouch.

The surgeon will then reconnect the patient's small intestine (duodenum) to this small pouch, bypassing the rest of the stomach and artificially limiting the capacity of the body to ingest food and drink.

There are different ways to access the stomach area to carry out the surgery. In the past, surgeons would generally make a broad incision across the patient's belly to access the stomach.

Modern techniques are less invasive, using tiny cameras called laparoscopes to provide a view of the stomach. With the help of the laparoscope, surgeons can then insert the tools they need to use into tiny incisions, which heal faster, resulting in shorter inpatient stays and less pain.

What should I expect from a gastric bypass procedure?

When you choose to undergo a gastric bypass operation, expect a lengthy process of preparation before you reach the operating theatre. Diet is an important part of the process. Shortly before the operation, expect to be required to follow a diet that is designed to reduce fat deposits around the stomach and liver.

For a brief period following surgery, a purely liquid diet is essential. After that, patients need to gradually adapt their food intake to suit their restricted stomach capacity and recovery process. The stages in this diet will be clearly laid-out by your specialists and vary from patient to patient.

During the surgery itself, patients will be placed under general anaesthetic. Recovery times vary, but will be much shorter if a laparoscopic technique is used. In any case, the healing process usually lasts 3-5 weeks, and most patients leave the hospital within 3 days.

What lifestyle changes are involved after a gastric bypass surgery?

Gastric bypass procedures always lead to major lifestyle changes. This is most obvious in the food and drink you consume. You will need to radically reduce the amount that you eat and control the nutrients that you include in your meals.

Gastric bypass patients tend to require higher quantities of vitamins and minerals, generally derived from fresh fruits and vegetables. You are expected to reduce your intake of sugars considerably, while maintaining a high protein intake of 60-100g per day.

The vast majority of patients also need to take multivitamins on a daily basis following their gastric bypass, including the full range of micronutrients, from Vitamin D to Iron and Calcium.

Hydration also becomes vital. Gastric bypass procedures tend to reduce the body's capacity to absorb water, meaning that you should make sure to rehydrate regularly, even if you do not feel thirsty.

Physicians may make additional recommendations, such as avoiding non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), which can inflame the stomach. They will recommend a fitness regime in almost all cases. Although gastric bypasses radically restrict calorie intake, they must be combined with physical activity to maintain weight loss. Most patients change their lifestyles to include gym memberships or increased exercise as a result.

Reviews

4.8
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(11 Reviews In All Countries)

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Verified patient

Char, United Kingdom

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★★★★★

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★★★★★

Dr. Major and his team go above and beyond to make sure you’re relaxed and comfortable.

kcm and Prof. Major are amazing. I was really nervous about going abroad for a gastric bypass but that was soon put aside from the moment we landed in Poland.  Dr. Major and his team go above and beyond to make sure you’re relaxed and comfortable. all very professional. I will and already have recommended people to kcm. thank you

Verified patient

Beate R., Germany

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★★★★☆

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★★★★☆

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★★★☆☆

My experience is that everything was well organized, but I don't advise to go alone without knowledge of the local language or English alone on the way.

I was picked up from the airport and taken back. The process was well thought out and ran without any problems. The staff was very nice and treated me well. The hospital was also very clean. My experience is that everything was well organized, but I don't advise to go alone without knowledge of the local language or English alone on the way.

Verified patient

Teresa, Ireland

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★★★★☆

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★★★★★

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★★★★★

Like I said the experience was great the staff were all very helpful Alexandra was super I can't recommend her enough and Juste at the hospital.

From the start Alexandra was brilliant when I began looking into the surgery every question I had she answered and her manner was kind and helpful. She would call me regularly and send over any info I required promptly. Once I made the decision to go for the surgery things moved fast I booked the flights and paid the deposit. On arrival at the airport a driver met me and brought me directly to the hotel he pointed out the hospital on the way past. I arrived the day before my surgery. I was exci... Show more

Verified patient

Rebecca, United Kingdom

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★★★★★

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Reyap Hospital in Turkey was the best

Reyap Hospital in Turkey was the best. I am healing brilliantly and am so happy with the results so far. My family were shocked when I told them ı would be getting surgery done overseas, expecially a big surgery like mine. Now that it is all over and I am very pleased with the results a few of my family members will be planning to get treatment done at Reyap Hospital aswell. I highly recommend this hospital. The environment is very clean. The workers are very caring and friendly and for sure the... Show more

Stephany, United Kingdom

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★★★★★

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★★★★★

Thanks to a real doctor with a genuine interest in patients I lost 32 kg

Thanks to a real doctor with a genuine interest in patients, thanks to the very friendly team I have lost 32 kg of weight and still continue to lose weight and I'm very healthy. I am very grateful to Dr. Omer!

Verified patient

Brigitte, Germany

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★★★★★

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I really liked the personal contact.

I have an enquiry put in online via gastric bypass and got very quickly an answer by email. Because I was on vacation I wrote back and said that I can only be reached by phone in August. The call was very friendly and informative. Arranged the abdominal surgery for 3.11.2018. I drove there by car and stayed at a hotel. On Friday the 02.11.2018 I went to the hospital and all necessary examinations were carried out. At my side was the personal advisor, she was very friendly. The nurse and put we... Show more

Verified patient

Mouna, Portugal

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I can assure you that you'll be in good hands at all levels!

So this is how it happened for me. I arrived in Kaunas on Sunday 4th of March where the taxi driver was already waiting for me with a tablet with my name on it. Juste was tracking my flight and called me right when we landed. I stayed in Kaunas from 4th to 14th of March. Monday 5th was all dedicated to pre-op exams. Process was quite smooth, Jogailé, my medical manager, who is in charge of foreign patients, was with me during all the time and took care of everything. She was with me during my sc... Show more

Verified patient

Jessica, Ireland

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★★★★★

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Felt secure and in safe hands operation went perfect.

Picked up by driver waiting at the airport helped with the luggage, great English explained everything to us. Hospital so clean and every test done for safety. Felt secure and in safe hands operation went perfect. Diet plan should be sent maybe 4 weeks before

Verified patient

Kitti, Ireland

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★★★★★

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★★★★★

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★★★★★

From the first consolations till the last was perfect, professional and the best service.

I had a trouble at the airport as no one was waiting for us and we had to wait approx an hour for a taxi driver who wasn’t friendly or apologetic. After that from the first consolations till the last was perfect, professional and the best service. Excellent! Nothing bad I can think of!!!

Verified patient

Joanne, Ireland

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★★★★★

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★★★★★

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★★★★★

The hospital.....well I have never felt so comfortable, well looked after and confident about the staff and their abilities. [Qunomedical] would bend over backwards to facilitate you. They follow you from start to finish.

I was picked up at the airport. Transport was organised for appointments throughout my trip. The hotel staff spoke great English, were friendly and always done their best to facilitate my needs. The hospital.....well I have never felt so comfortable, well looked after and confident about the staff and their abilities. They explained everything in detail, provided a full work up beforehand and are experts in their field. The hospital was so clean you could eat your dinner off the floor. I would h... Show more

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