Gastric Bypass

Gastric Bypass Surgery San Diego

Gastric bypass surgery is a bariatric surgery that has traditionally been thought of as a combination of restriction (reducing food intake) and malabsorption (reducing the absorption of some nutrients).

Recently, we have realized that the surgery is a “metabolic reset” by changing the production of gut hormones (such as GLP-1) that are critical to improving the body’s metabolic function.

Changes in the gut bacteria and bile acids are also felt to be an important part of the reason that this operation has stood the test of time as one of the most successful surgeries for long-term sustained weight loss. It is very successful for weight management and in helping patients achieve their ideal body weight.

And for the best in minimally invasive laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery in San Diego, the choice is clear: Olde Del Mar Surgical.

Bariatric surgeons Dr. Sunil Bhoyrul and Dr. Pascal Bortz and the team regularly perform gastric bypass surgery in San Diego. Olde Del Mar's provider team uses laparoscopic techniques, resulting in less scarring and a quicker recovery.

What’s more, patients who lose weight by taking advantage of these increasingly common weight-loss procedures benefit from more than just the surgery itself. As Dr. Bhoyrul often says, it’s not so much about the surgery or the weight loss or the specific diet and exercise; it’s about the increased ability to engage in life on one’s own terms — and for the long-term.

We believe strongly in high-quality, long-term follow-up. In addition to our schedule of routine follow-ups, patients have access to support groups and our own mobile apps to provide multiple ways of getting the help they need to continue on their health and wellness journey.

Returning patients often describe to us how much their lives have changed. Interestingly, they usually talk first about the improvements in their health, sense of well-being, self-image, improved relationships, and finally mention their excellent weight loss!

How Is gastric bypass surgery performed?

Gastric bypass surgery, also known as Roux-en-Y bypass, is performed laparoscopically (or robotically) by Olde Del Mar's Provider Team. This method uses smaller incisions to allow access to a video camera and other surgical tools.

When performing the procedure, Olde Del Mar's Provider Team isolates a small portion of the stomach to create a pouch roughly the size of a deck of playing cards. Then, the small intestine below the stomach is cut, to create a new intestinal channel (the roux limb) that allows us to bypass the rest of the stomach and the first part (about 30cm) of the small intestine. The length of the new intestinal channel (the roux limb) is typically around 100cm. After we have created the stomach pouch and the roux limb, we connect the two using a highly skilled “hand-sewn” technique that we believe reduces the likelihood of complications and causes less discomfort than the traditional stapled technique employed by most practices.

In our hands, the surgery takes one hour to two hours, depending on patient factors. Patients usually have minimal discomfort and can usually start a liquid diet within 24 hours of the surgery.