Category: Mini Gastric Bypass

At Tijuana Bariatrics, we’re proud to offer patients a wide variety of surgical options. Each patient is different, so it’s important that weight loss procedures be able to address their needs specifically. The mini gastric bypass surgery has increased in popularity over the years since it’s been able to promote healthy weight loss with a number of advantages over traditional gastric bypass surgery.

The weight loss surgery specialists at our Tijuana, MX practice would like to take a moment to cover the basics of the mini gastric bypass. We’ll then consider some of the key advantages it has over the traditional gastric bypass procedure.

About Mini Gastric Bypass Surgery

The mini gastric bypass works in much the same way as a traditional gastric bypass, though the procedure itself is much less invasive and extensive.

During a mini gastric bypass, the stomach is divided into a lower pouch and a smaller upper pouch. The upper pouch is resected and attached to the small intestine, bypassing about 6 feet of intestine in the process. The upper stomach pouch allows patients to feel fuller faster (restrictive weight loss) while the resting also results in less absorption of calories during digestion (malabsorptive weight loss).

Shorter Surgical Procedure

The mini gastric bypass surgery requires less time than a traditional gastric bypass procedure. Normal gastric bypasses tend to take about 2 hours to perform. A mini gastric bypass can take as little as 30 minutes. The surgery is done through small incisions on the abdomen, with small tools used to make the necessary adjustments.

Less Rerouting of the Intestines

Since the surgery is not as involved as the traditional gastric bypass, there is less rerouting of the intestines required. This tends to make the surgery a bit easier to perform and easier on the patient’s body as well.

Reduced Risk of Complications

Since the procedure requires less revision of the stomach and intestines than traditional gastric bypass surgery, a mini gastric bypass typically means a reduced risk of post-op complications. Ultimately this means the surgery is safer for patients during the procedure and in the crucial first weeks of recovery.

Mini Gastric Bypass Can Be Reversed

Reversing a traditional gastric bypass procedure is extremely difficult, but reversing a mini gastric bypass is simple by comparison. If a patient requires a revision of their mini gastric bypass, the procedure can be undone with ease, allowing the patient to avoid health risks and other issues related to poor surgical outcomes.

Less Expensive Than a Full Gastric Bypass

Since the mini gastric bypass is not as expensive as the traditional procedure, the cost of the surgery is lower. This savings means that medical tourism patients will be able to save even more on their surgical weight loss procedure.

Excellent Weight Loss Results

Mini gastric bypass surgery patients are able to lose a great deal of excess weight thanks to the surgical procedure. With a healthy diet and regular exercise, patients will be able to keep that weight off for the long haul and experience improved health and wellness.

Contact Tijuana Bariatrics

For more information about mini gastric bypass surgery and how it can benefit you, be sure to contact an experienced weight loss surgeon. The team at Tijuana Bariatrics will answer all of your questions and address your concerns about the procedure.

Individuals who want to lose weight and jumpstart a healthier lifestyle can benefit from bariatric surgery. Our team of surgeons at Tijuana Bariatrics in Tijuana, Mexico, provides a number of advanced weight loss procedures to help our patients improve their overall quality of life. We can also coordinate your treatment in Monterrey if that location is more convenient.

The mini gastric bypass is a modified version of the traditional gastric bypass surgery. This method requires less intestinal rerouting and offers a faster overall recovery time. Like any surgical procedure, there are certain mini gastric bypass side effects that patients should be aware of. Here, we discuss typical side effects, risks, and complications of the treatment. We will also offer a few recommendations to foster a safe and successful recovery.

Mini Gastric Bypass: A Brief Overview

At our practice, we perform laparoscopic mini gastric bypass. This procedure is less invasive than traditional bariatric surgery. In contrast to open surgery, laparoscopic surgery only requires five incisions in the abdominal area. Your surgeon places the instruments through the incisions, then modifies the stomach into a small tube. The new stomach is then attached to the small intestine, bypassing the duodenum and a portion of the bowel. Finally, the incisions are closed with sutures. In most cases, this procedure can be completed in about one hour.

Common Side Effects

Anytime you undergo a surgical procedure, some degree of discomfort is expected. Patients who have mini gastric bypass may also develop:

• Constipation: Many individuals experience constipation following weight loss surgery. While it may be tempting to take granular fiber to alleviate the problem, this can actually cause obstruction. Talk with your surgeon about ways to reduce the risk of constipation.
• Gallstones: When you lose weight rapidly, gallstones are a common occurrence. In fact, they develop in about 50 percent of cases. Typically, gallstones are harmless. However, in some cases, they may need to be surgically removed.
• Dumping syndrome: Following weight loss surgery, foods and drinks with high sugar content are not recommended. Consuming these can lead to severe nausea and fatigue.
• Wound infections: Sometimes patients may develop redness or inflammation around the incisions. This indicates an infection and will require antibiotics.

Serious Risks and Complications

While serious complications are rare, it is important to familiarize yourself with the symptoms so you can take proper action. Severe mini gastric bypass side effects include:

• Blood in the stool: If your stool appears dark red or black, it could indicate a serious issue. Contact your surgeon immediately or go to the nearest emergency room.
• Blood clots: Though rare, blood clots can be life-threatening. Typically, frequent activity and blood thinning medications can help prevent this complication.
• Leaky connections: During the mini gastric bypass procedure, your surgeon connects one end of the small intestine loop to your new stomach pouch and connects the other end lower down on the intestine. Each of these connections is referred to as an anastomosis. In some instances, digestive juices can leak through an anastomosis. This typically happens within the first five days and should be addressed immediately.

Recommendations for a Successful Recovery

Following your mini gastric bypass, it is important to follow all recommended guidelines from your surgeon. You will be provided with a specific list of instructions, but here are a few recommendations in the meantime:

• Walk as soon as you can following surgery to prevent blood clots.
• Follow the postoperative diet.
• Attend all of your follow-up appointments.
• Consider joining a support group of individuals who have undergone bariatric surgery.

Contact Our Practice Today

If you are considering mini gastric bypass, or you have recently undergone the procedure, it is important to be cognizant of side effects. To learn more or to schedule an appointment at our Tijuana, Mexico, practice, contact us online or call us at (800) 308-3607.

Mini gastric bypass significantly reduces the size of the stomach so that the body feels full faster, making it easier for severely overweight people to lose weight. Mini gastric bypass is similar to traditional gastric bypass, but it uses smaller incisions and results in a shorter recovery time for patients.

As patients recover from mini gastric bypass at Tijuana Bariatrics, they will need to adopt new eating habits. Our doctors teach our Tijuana, Mexico, patients about the proper mini gastric bypass diet so that they get the weight loss results they desire from surgery.

Eating in the Early Stages of Recovery

During the first two to three weeks of mini gastric bypass recovery, patients will only be consuming liquids or pureed foods. The new stomach is roughly the size of an egg initially, so patients will feel full very quickly. It is important that patients choose liquids or pureed foods that are low in fat and sugar, but high in protein. Good choices at this stage of recovery include:

• Protein drinks
• Non-fat, sugar-free yogurt
• Sugar-free pudding or Jell-O
• Low-fat cottage cheese
• Non-fat milk
• Blended soups

Initially, patients will only be able to tolerate a few sips or bites of food at a time. It is important to eat slowly and stop eating when the body is full.

Introducing Solids

As recovery progresses, patients will be able to introduce solid foods. It is important that patients maintain a nutritious diet that will provide them with as many vitamins and nutrients as possible. Since the stomach will only be about a quarter of its previous size, it is vital that patients avoid “empty” calories that won’t provide fuel to the body.

When solids are first introduced, patients will need to take a few bites at a time to see how food is tolerated. It is best to stick to foods that are easily chewed, such as ground meat, scrambled egg whites, canned fruit, and soft-cooked vegetables.

Within a couple of months after the surgical procedure at our Tijuana practice, patients should be able to eat a pretty regular diet. Patients should be able to take in about 1,000 calories a day at this point, but it will be broken into several small meals throughout the day. Patients should maintain a balanced diet that contains dairy, meat (or a meat alternative), starch, fruits, and vegetables.

Long-term Diet Tips

Following mini gastric bypass, patients can expect to lose weight quickly. To keep the weight off, they will need to continue to maintain a healthy diet. These tips can help patients enjoy the results of mini gastric bypass long-term, while avoiding potential complications:

• Drink a glass of water between each meal or snack to prevent dehydration
• Take recommended vitamins and nutritional supplements
• Eat small, frequent meals throughout the day, rather than three large meals
• Continue to count calories every day
• Avoid alcohol, soda, and carbonated beverages
• Limit bread and rice
• Choose whole grains, lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables

Contact Us

Mini gastric bypass encourages weight loss to improve a person’s overall health. If you would like to learn more about gastric bypass or the other weight loss procedures offered at Tijuana Bariatrics, contact us at your earliest convenience. You can also call (877) 233-9292 to schedule a personal consultation with one of our experienced doctors.

Obesity carries a lot of health risks. When patients are significantly overweight, they are more likely to suffer from medical conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Bariatric surgery offers people who have been unsuccessful at losing excess weight through traditional diet and exercise an effective way to shed pounds and take control of their health.

Mini gastric bypass is a laparoscopic procedure that reduces the size of the stomach and reroutes the digestive tract. However, many of our Tijuana, Mexico patients want to know if mini gastric bypass is reversible. In short, the answer is yes, but the team at Tijuana Bariatrics goes over that in further detail here.

Reversing Mini Gastric Bypass

Traditional gastric bypass is not considered a reversible technique. However, since mini gastric bypass utilizes smaller and fewer incisions than a traditional gastric bypass, this procedure can be reversed.

When a mini gastric bypass is performed, the stomach is divided into two sections – a smaller section that will collect food, and a larger portion that will be bypassed. The smaller section of the stomach is relocated so that it connects to the lower portion of the small intestines. This procedure drastically reduces the size of the stomach and limits absorption of calories and nutrients.

The reason that mini gastric bypass can be reversed is that no part of the body is cut out or removed. Instead, the stomach is divided by staples, and then repositioned in the digestive tract. If necessary, mini gastric bypass can be reversed by moving the stomach back to its original position, and removing staples from between the two portions of the stomach so that it returns to its natural size.

Should Mini Gastric Bypass Be Reversed?

Although mini gastric bypass can be reversed, that doesn’t mean that it should be. Mini gastric bypass is safer and simpler than traditional gastric bypass, but reversing the procedure can still be complicated.

Patients typically should not undergo a mini gastric bypass reversal unless they are experiencing serious surgical complications. Reversal may be appropriate if an infection develops, if the patient develops a hernia, or if they are suffering from malnutrition.

Weight Gain after Mini Gastric Bypass Reversal

If patients undergo mini gastric bypass reversal, it is important that they be aware of the risk of weight gain. Nearly every patient who has a mini gastric bypass reversed goes on to regain a good portion of the weight that was lost after the surgery.

Even if the patient is careful about following a healthier diet and more active exercise routine, it is possible to regain some weight after a bypass is reversed, simply because the size of the stomach increases, as does the amount of nutrients and calories that are absorbed.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about mini gastric bypass, or the possibility of reversing a previous mini gastric procedure, our doctors and staff would be happy to discuss your concerns. Contact us at your earliest convenience to learn more.

Mini gastric bypass reduces the size of the stomach and limits the number of calories and nutrients that can be absorbed by the body. This procedure offers effective weight loss results that are similar to those of traditional gastric bypass. The primary difference is that mini gastric bypass is less invasive than traditional gastric bypass and requires smaller and fewer surgical incisions.

One factor that plays a big role in determining mini gastric bypass candidacy is the patient’s body mass index, or BMI. Here our Tijuana, Mexico patients can learn more about the ideal BMI for mini gastric bypass at our weight loss center, Tijuana Bariatrics.

Because mini gastric bypass is considered safer and less complicated than traditional gastric bypass, many of our patients are interested in finding out if they are ideal candidates for the procedure.

Calculating Your BMI

BMI measures a person’s body fat by comparing their weight to their height. To determine their BMI, patients should take their weight (in pounds) and divide it by their height (in inches) squared. The answer to that equation then needs to be multiplied by 703.

Medical professionals use BMI to determine whether a patient is underweight, within their ideal weight range, or overweight. If a person’s BMI is under 18.5, they are considered underweight. The BMI for the ideal weight range is between 18.5 and 25. A BMI between 25 and 30 is considered overweight, a BMI between 30 and 35 is moderately obese, a BMI between 35 and 40 is severely obese, and above 40 is considered morbidly obese.

How High Does My BMI Need to Be for Mini Gastric Bypass?

Mini gastric bypass carries less risk of complications than traditional gastric bypass, but it is still a serious surgical procedure. Because of the risks associated with bariatric surgery, these procedures are generally only recommended for individuals who have a significant amount of weight to lose. In most cases, mini gastric bypass surgery is intended for our Tijuana patients who have a BMI of 40 or higher.

What If I Have a Lower BMI?

Although the general guideline for mini gastric bypass candidacy is a BMI of 40 or above, the procedure can be performed on patients with a lower BMI. We offer mini gastric bypass to patients with a BMI between 35 and 40, if they have comorbidities.

Comorbidity describes the presence of one or more medical conditions that exist alongside a primary condition. In cases of potential mini gastric bypass patients, the primary condition would be obesity, and comorbidities would be any medical conditions that exist alongside obesity and threaten to further compromise the patient’s health.

Comorbidities that are common in obese patients include heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallbladder disease, and sleep apnea. Since all of these conditions put a person at risk for serious health complications, it can be beneficial to perform mini gastric bypass on patients, even if their BMI is not at 40 or above.

Learn More

If you are significantly overweight and have had a difficult time losing weight, you may be an ideal candidate for mini gastric bypass. To learn more about this weight loss procedure, send a message to our staff at Tijuana Bariatrics to schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience.

A mini gastric bypass can help those who struggle with their weight shed excess pounds with fewer incisions and less time in surgery.

Although a mini gastric bypass is less invasive than a traditional bypass, patients must be prepared to make changes to their diet immediately after surgery, throughout recovery, and beyond. 

Tijuana Bariatrics would like to take this time to look at a general mini gastric bypass diet in this week-by-week guide so patients in Tijuana, Mexico and Monterrey, Mexico may have a better idea of what to expect with their diets after surgery. 

Week One

After mini bypass surgery, patients should follow a strict liquid diet for the first week of recovery. This is necessary to allow the stomach time to heal properly and prevent stretching, which can lead to complications. 

Additionally, the stomach is significantly smaller in size after mini bypass surgery which means patients will not be able to eat as much as they did prior to surgery. A liquid diet helps patients with consuming smaller quantities. 

It is important that patients only drink clear liquids for the first 24 to 48 hours after surgery. Once this time has passed and the patient is able to tolerate clear liquids, other liquids may be added to their diet, such as:

• fruit juice without added sweeteners
• sugar free Jell-O®
• skim milk
• flavored broths
• decaffeinated coffee
• sugar free popsicles

Weeks Two to Four

After the first week of a liquid diet, patients can add pureed foods to their diet. Pureed foods should be completely smooth with not solid pieces of food and not too thick in consistency. 

Pureed foods should be eaten through the fourth week of recovery. When preparing and consuming pureed foods, patients should keep the meals small, around four to six tablespoons, and space out eating three to six times a day. 

The following foods may be blended with liquids, like water, unsweetened fruit juices, or flavored broths, to create a smooth puree: 

• soft fruits
• cooked, soft vegetables
• lean meats
• scrambled eggs

Weeks Four to Eight

Around week four, most patients will be cleared by the doctor to move on to soft foods. Soft foods should be small in portion, about one-third to one-half cup in size, and should be eaten slowly three to five times a day.

When moving on to soft foods, it’s important that patients chew thoroughly so that the food is a pureed consistency when swallowed.  

Some foods that may be soft enough to eat by week four include:

• lean ground meat
• eggs
• fish
• seedless soft fresh fruits
• skinless soft, cooked vegetables

Beyond Eight Weeks

Around eight weeks after surgery, most patients are able to eat solid foods again. When patients are cleared to reintroduce solid foods back into their diet, they should take care to slowly incorporate solids into their daily meals.

After eight weeks, it’s important that patients continue to eat a healthy diet of lean meats, whole grains, and a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables, and remain mindful of portion sizes. Tijuana patients who follow a healthy diet often have great success with meeting their weight loss goals and maintaining a lower weight. 

Contact Tijuana Bariatrics

For more information about mini gastric bypass, please call Tijuana Bariatrics at (800) 308-3607 for assistance in scheduling a consultation. 

Sometimes diet and exercise just don’t solve weight issues, especially if you need to lose a good number of pounds. If you’ve struggled with your weight for years and you’re still fighting the battle, consider gastric bypass surgery or mini gastric bypass to finally achieve the target weight you’ve been unable to reach on your own. 

Tijuana Bariatrics, LLC, with offices in Tijuana and Monterrey, Mexico, coordinates a variety of safe, effective treatments to improve your quality of life and end your obesity struggles. If you want to learn more about gastric bypass and mini gastric bypass procedures, continue reading about the most important differences between the two most common types of weight loss surgery.

Differences at a Glance

Typically, the mini gastric bypass and traditional bypass have similar results. Both reduce the body’s ability to feel hungry and to store food, so the patient eats less. That being said, the procedures are not necessarily equal. Here are the major distinctions between gastric bypass and mini gastric bypass surgeries that you should consider.  

• Surgical complications are more common after traditional gastric bypass. Because it requires more intestinal rerouting than mini gastric bypass, traditional gastric bypass has a 7% complication rate, while mini gastric bypass carries a 2.7% risk of complications. 
• Mini gastric bypass is less invasive. Generally, it requires only four incisions and less time in the operating room than traditional gastric bypass surgery. 

Despite their differences, both surgical procedures have proven to be safe, effective ways to lose substantial weight and keep it off.

Comparing Surgical Complication Rates

The traditional surgery requires the surgeon to divide the stomach into an upper and lower pouch, then connect the small intestine to both pouches. In the mini version, there’s much less intestinal rerouting, meaning a decreased chance of surgical issues during or after the procedure. In other words, a mini bypass might is quicker to perform and often requires fewer incisions. Patients tend to spend less time experiencing discomfort and have reduced recovery length. 

Availability & Insurance Coverage

Because of the newness of mini gastric bypass surgery, it has less statistical data available than traditional gastric bypass. For this reason, not all bariatric surgeons will perform mini gastric bypass.

Patients with GERD or chronic acid reflux generally opt for full gastric bypass to treat that condition. Aside from those cases, you should note that not every surgeon has the necessary laparoscopic expertise to perform mini gastric bypass surgeries, another element that contributes to the popularity of the traditional method. Insurance often won’t cover the cost of mini gastric bypass, which tends to be the more expensive of the two options.

Schedule an Appointment at Tijuana Bariatrics, LLC

Are you tired of letting obesity rule your life? Are you ready to look and feel great while becoming the healthiest version of yourself? Are you ready to change your life forever? If you’ve answered yes to these questions, then it’s time to reach out to Tijuana Bariatrics, LLC in Tijuana and Monterrey, Mexico. To schedule your consultation, call (800) 308-3607 or send a message today. 

With mini gastric bypass surgery, the stomach size and intestine length are reduced. This means, patients will feel full after eating a small amount of food and their small intestine will not absorb as many calories during the digestion process. The procedure combines restrictive and malabsorptive weight loss mechanisms.

Tijuana Bariatrics encourages patients to adhere to a special diet that reintroduces healthy foods slowly as the patient recovers from weight loss surgery. These guidelines cover the ideal eating habits for patients who’ve undergone mini gastric bypass surgery.

Purpose of the Post-Op Diet

Though a mini gastric bypass is less invasive than the traditional gastric bypass procedure, results and dietary considerations are similar. To avoid complications and allow time for your body to heal, patients are asked to follow specific guidelines on what kinds of foods they should eat and when new foods can be reintroduced.

One Day Post-Surgery

Only drink/eat clear liquids, like water, broth, skim milk, decaf coffee or tea, and unsweetened juice, gelatin, and popsicles. Do not stray from this diet on day one. Rest and allow your body to recuperate.

One Week Post-Surgery

Now you can introduce pureed foods and eat three to six meals a day. Each meal will be small, amounting to roughly 4-6 tablespoons of food. The solids should be savored and chewed thoroughly. We recommend taking per meal 30 minutes.

Consider tossing these foods in the blender with water, skim milk, broth, or sugar-free juice:

• Fish or lean meats
• Cottage cheese
• Cooked oatmeal
• Scrambled eggs
• Cooked fruits and veggies (no skin or seeds)
• Strained soups

Three or Four Weeks Post-Surgery

With your doctor’s approval, after about a month, you can move to soft solid foods. Common food items at this stage of the post-op diet include:

• Cooked lean meat and fish
• Cooked cereals
• Well-cooked rice
• Eggs
• Cottage cheese
• Cooked fruits and veggies (no skin or seeds)

Eight Weeks Post-Surgery

After two months, it’s time to try three to six meals a day. Meal serving sized are typically 1-1.5 cups of food.

These tips should help you make the transition to your new-normal diet easier:

• Drink 1 cup of liquid 30 minutes before/after a meal
• Drink 64 oz of water a day
• Chew food to a pureed state before swallowing
• Stop eating before you feel full
• Take prescribed supplements every day – this will be a lifelong habit

We recommend that patients choose foods that are:

• High protein
• Low fat
• Low sugar
• Low on simple carbohydrates
• Not fried

Other Tips Moving Forward

Eating smaller portions more often will be key to long-term surgical success. Your stomach is now a pouch, and it will only hold a small amount of food. Patients should also drink water between meals rather than during meals. This allows patients to eat full, nutritious meals with each sitting.

If you eat too much too fast, food will enter your small intestine faster than your body can handle. This can cause dumping syndrome, which causes dizziness, nausea, vomiting, sweating, and diarrhea. If you experience these symptoms, talk with your healthcare provider about ways to manage digestion.

Contact Tijuana Bariatrics

If you’re considering a mini gastric bypass surgery and would like more information, contact Tijuana Bariatrics online or call (877) 759-0739. We will be happy to answer all of your questions so that you can decide on the best strategy for long-term weight loss and lifelong healthiness.

Many people living with obesity become discouraged when they are unable to lose weight and keep it off despite dieting and exercise. Mini gastric bypass is one of the most effective ways to fight obesity and see long-term weight loss results.  

Mini gastric bypass surgery can be expensive in the United States, preventing many who would benefit from this surgery from pursuing treatment. When calculating the cost of mini gastric bypass, patients should look to Tijuana Bariatrics in Tijuana, Mexico.

At Tijuana Bariatrics, we offer affordable pricing to make mini gastric bypass surgery a reality for many people. Read on to learn about mini gastric bypass surgery and the cost in Tijuana.

About Mini Gastric Bypass Surgery

Mini gastric bypass surgery is similar to a traditional gastric bypass in that it is used to make the stomach smaller, helping to reduce the amount of food a patient can eat so that they may have greater success with weight loss.

The difference with a mini gastric bypass is that fewer changes are made to the rerouting of the stomach to the intestines. This allows for less invasive surgery with smaller incisions, quicker recovery, and often less chance of complications. 

Additionally, because mini gastric bypass is less invasive, it typically costs less than traditional gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y) surgery.

Mini Gastric Bypass Costs in the USA

The cost of mini gastric bypass in the United States varies by state, by hospital, and even by doctor. With this in mind, prices generally range from $16,000 to $22,000.

Individual costs can also be affected by medical insurance. Some insurance plans cover a portion of gastric bypass while others do not.

Medical Tourism in Mexico and Mini Gastric Bypass Affordability

Mexico has a thriving medical tourism industry supported by affordable high-quality medical care, skilled surgeons, and a welcoming environment.

Undergoing mini gastric bypass in Mexico is significantly less expensive than most places in the United States. At our office in Tijuana, Mexico, the cost of mini gastric bypass surgery is approximately $6,500.

Although undergoing surgery in Mexico can be roughly $10,000 to $15,000 less than the costs in the United States, patients can expect their hospital stay to be as safe as an American hospital with no greater chances of surgical risks or complications.

Other Cost Benefits of Mini Gastric Bypass Surgery in Mexico

In addition to the cost-saving benefits of receiving a mini gastric bypass in Mexico, many patients find the experience relaxing and much like a vacation. This is because the costs of mini gastric bypass surgery through Tijuana Bariatrics cover hotel fees, ground transportation from the airport in San Diego to Tijuana, hospital fees, medication for after surgery, and nutritional consultations.

Additionally, modern hotels are close to the tourist district, allowing patients time to relax before surgery and during recovery. It’s a great way to begin a new life after mini gastric bypass surgery!

Contact Tijuana Bariatrics

For answers to your questions about mini gastric bypass or to find out which treatment is right for you, please call our Tijuana, Mexico, office or contact us online.

Mini gastric bypass helps patients achieve their weight loss goals with a faster recovery time than traditional gastric bypass surgery. Although recovery is faster and the mini bypass procedure is less invasive than traditional gastric bypass, there are some common side effects to be aware of.  

At Tijuana Bariatrics, our surgical team explains the common side effects of mini gastric bypass to patients in Tijuana, Mexico, and provides guidance to reduce the risk of side effects. With this in mind, our team would like to take a look at five of the most common side effects and how to prevent them.   

1. Acid Reflux

Acid reflux is a condition in which bile or acid from the stomach irritates the lining of the esophagus. Because the stomach is significantly smaller after mini gastric bypass surgery, patients who overeat are more likely to experience acid reflux. 

Some ways to reduce the risk of acid reflux after mini gastric bypass surgery include eating smaller meals, eating more frequent meals instead of a few large meals, and avoiding spicy, highly acidic, or fried foods. 

2. Constipation

After mini gastric bypass surgery, some patients may experience temporary constipation. Constipation after mini gastric bypass is usually caused by a sudden decrease in food and drink and may also be caused by pain medications taken during recovery.

Constipation is often helped by staying hydrated, eating enough dietary fiber, and engaging in gentle physical activity, such as walking, after surgery. 

3. Wound Infections

As with any surgery, there is a risk of wound infections after mini gastric bypass. When an infection is present, the area around an incision may appear red or inflamed. 

Infections can be prevented by following all post-surgical instructions for wound care, including keeping wounds clean and changing bandages as directed. 

If an infection develops, it should be treated by a doctor immediately to prevent the spread of infection and other complications. 

4. Dumping Syndrome

Dumping syndrome is a possible side effect of mini gastric bypass and other weight loss surgeries. Dumping syndrome is a condition that causes foods to move from the stomach to the bowel too quickly and is more common when foods high in sugar are consumed. 

Dumping syndrome can cause patients to have such symptoms such as abdominal cramps or diarrhea 10 minutes to 3 hours after eating.

Our Tijuana patients can reduce the risk of dumping syndrome by eating smaller meals and limiting or altogether avoiding foods high in sugar.  

5. Gallstones

Gallstones are a hardened mass made of cholesterol, calcium salts, and bile pigments that form in the gallbladder that can block the bile duct and cause severe pain. Rapid weight loss increases the risk of developing gallstones. 

Gallstones sometimes cause no symptoms and don’t require treatment. However, if symptoms are present, surgical removal may be necessary.  

Mini gastric bypass patients can lower their risk of developing gallstones by eating foods high in fiber, limiting processed sugar and refined carbohydrates, and avoiding unhealthy fats, like fried foods and desserts. 

Schedule a Consultation

If you have questions about mini gastric bypass surgery or would like to find out if you’re a candidate, schedule a consultation with one of our Tijuana based bariatric surgeons.