The Roux-en-Y is currently the most widely recommended weight loss surgery. Roux-en-Y surgery involves division of the stomach into a very small upper pouch and a completely separate lower section. The upper pouch is then connected directly to the small intestine, allowing food to bypass most of the stomach and much of the intestinal tract.

Click here to view a simple animation that illustrates the procedure.

Patients who undergo Roux-en-Y surgery will feel full sooner and subsequently to eat much less due to the size of the small stomach pouch. Additionally, the food they consume will be digested differently due to the intestinal rerouting, allowing fewer calories to be absorbed by the body. Most patients tend to lose 60-70% of excess body weight with Roux-en-Y, but it can be difficult for those who eat a lot of sweets because rich foods are absorbed poorly and can cause feelings of intense physical discomfort known as dumping syndrome.

Roux-en-Y requires fairly substantial changes to a patient’s diet. It is most effective to eat up to 10 very small meals or healthy snacks throughout the day. Some vitamin and mineral deficiencies are likely due to the malabsorptive aspect of the procedure and, as with any surgery, other side effects and complications can occur.

Roux-en-Y can be performed using traditional methods or a less invasive laparoscopic procedure. This can result in a decreased risk of complications and faster recovery, but in complicated cases or when patients are extremely obese, traditional surgery may still be the best option.