Mini Gastric Bypass Surgery Vs The Full Version

Posted by edwardjohnson on April 8th, 2019

Patients seeking a gastric bypass operation today have several choices.  They can opt for the full procedure, which involves splitting the small intestine in 2 and reattaching the bottom section to the newly created stomach pouch at the top of the stomach.  The top section remains attached to the large section of stomach to allow digestive juices to escape, and is reattached to the rest of the intestine closer to the large intestine.  This was the most common bypass procedure until a modified version was developed in 1997.  The modified version, called a mini gastric bypass, is now as popular, if not more so, than the full version.  It carries less risk, is quicker to perform, and does the same job even more effectively.

A mini gastric bypass also divides the stomach in two.  However, where the full version divides it horizontally and creates a tiny egg sized pouch at the top of the stomach, the mini bypass creates a sleeve down the right hand side of the stomach.  This sleeve is then hooked into a loop of the small intestine some 7 feet down from the top of the intestine.  This removes the need to actually split the small intestine in two, and reduces the number of ‘joins’ needed.  It also reduces surgical time by almost an hour.  Another advantage is that the mini gastric bypass offers more options by way of reversal, or corrections.

Contrary to what was originally thought, the slightly larger stomach doesn’t mean patients lose less weight either.  In fact, comparisons show that people who have had the mini bypass actually lose more weight than those who have had the full bypass.  The other advantage of the slightly larger stomach is that it does allow consumption of more nutrients than the full version.  However, both versions require special, and highly nutritious diets in order to provide all essential nutrients.  There simply isn’t room in those tiny stomachs for any excess food so every mouthful has to count.  Even so, there’s still a very real risk of developing nutritional deficiencies that may cause health problems later in life.

Gastric bypasses, mini and full, work by both restricting calorie intake, and reducing its absorption in the small intestine.  This combination is proven to work more effectively than either restrictive (lap banding and gastric sleeves) or mal-absorptive surgeries on their own.

Affordable Mini Gastric Bypass Surgery

The biggest problem with mini gastric bypass surgery is that it still isn’t covered by most insurance companies.  Therefore, if you want it done, you’ll be footing the bill yourself.  This forces many people to choose the full version instead, even though it carries more risks.  However, if you choose to have a mini gastric bypass in Costa Rica instead, you’ll find it costs far less.  The health care facilities there are world class, and most of the surgeons have trained and worked alongside their US and UK counterparts.  This means you’re guaranteed quality surgery the equal of what you’d get at home, for a fraction of the price.