Skip to Content
800-533-8762
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Health Care Professionals
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
UPMC
  • Find a Doctor
  • Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
    • Frequently Searched Services
      Allergy & Immunology Behavioral & Mental Health Cancer Ear, Nose & Throat Endocrinology Gastroenterology Heart & Vascular Imaging Neurosciences Orthopaedics
      Physical Rehabilitation Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Primary Care Senior Services Sports Medicine Telemedicine Transplant Surgery Walk-In Care Weight Management Women’s Health
      See all Services
    • Services by Region
    • Find a UPMC health care facility close to you quickly by browsing by region.
      UPMC in Western Pa. Western Pa. and New York
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Services
  • Locations
    • Locations by Type
    • Locations by Type
      UPMC hospitals
      Hospitals
      Physical Therapy
      Physical Therapy
      Urgent care
      Walk-In Care
      UPMC Outpatient Centers
      Outpatient Centers
      UPMC Imaging Services
      Imaging
      Community Health Centers
      Community Health Centers
      See All Locations
    • Locations by Region
    • Locations by Region
      UPMC in Southwest Pa. Southwest Pa.
      UPMC in North Central Pa. North Central Pa.
      UPMC in Northwest Pa and Ny. Northwest Pa. & Western N.Y.
      UPMC in West Central Pa. West Central Pa.
      UPMC in Central Pa. Central Pa.
      UPMC in Western Md. Maryland & West Virginia
    • See All Locations
  • Patients & Visitors
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
      Patients and Visitors Resources Pay a Bill Classes & Events Medical Records Health Library Patient Information
      Patient Portals Privacy Information Shared Decision Making Traveling Patients Visitor Information
      Man uses mobile phone
      Pay a Bill
      Nurse reviews medical chart
      Request Medical Records
  • Patient Portals
  • Find Covid-19 updates
  • Schedule an appointment
  • Request medical records
  • Pay a bill
  • Learn about financial assistance
  • Find classes & events
  • Send a patient an eCard
  • Make a donation
  • Volunteer
  • Read HealthBeat blog
  • Explore UPMC Careers
Skip to Content
UPMC
  • Patient Portals
  • For Patients & Visitors
    • Find a Doctor
    • Locations
    • Patient & Visitor Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Services
    • More
      • Medical Records
      • Financial Assistance
      • Classes & Events
      • HealthBeat Blog
      • Health Library
  • About UPMC
    • Why UPMC
    • Facts & Stats
    • Supply Chain Management
    • Community Commitment
    • More
      • Financials
      • Support UPMC
      • UPMC Apps
      • UPMC Enterprises
      • UPMC International
  • For Health Care Professionals
    • Physician Information
    • Resources
    • Education & Training
    • Departments
    • Credentialing
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Newsroom
  • UPMC >
  • Our Services >
  • Weight Loss Services >
  • ... >
  • Bariatric Surgery Process >
  • Surgical Options >
  • Gastric Bypass
Weight Loss Services
Are You a Candidate?
Patient Stories
Bariatric Surgery Process
Presurgical Program
Surgical Options
Gastric Sleeve
Gastric Bypass
Malabsorptive Procedures
Revision Procedures
Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD-DS)
Gastric Bypass vs Sleeve
Post Surgery
Non-surgical Options
Information Sessions
Tools and Resources
Research
Our Locations
Our Experts
Contact Us
Weight Loss Services
Are You a Candidate?
Patient Stories
Bariatric Surgery Process
Presurgical Program
Surgical Options
Gastric Sleeve
Gastric Bypass
Malabsorptive Procedures
Revision Procedures
Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD-DS)
Gastric Bypass vs Sleeve
Post Surgery
Non-surgical Options
Information Sessions
Tools and Resources
Research
Our Locations
Our Experts
Contact Us

Chat Keywords List

  • cancel or exit: Stops your conversation
  • start over: Restarts your current scenario
  • help: Shows what this bot can do
  • terms: Shows terms of use and privacy statement
  • feedback: Give us feedback
Continue
Chat with UPMC
RESTART
MENU
CLOSE

Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric bypass surgery, also called the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass procedure, is the most common form of weight loss surgery performed in the United States today.

What is Gastric Bypass Surgery?

Description

Also known as stomach bypass surgery or bariatric bypass surgery, this procedure creates a small pouch that bypasses the stomach and attaches to the intestine. A gastric bypass operation is irreversible, in most cases.

Method

There are two types of gastric bypass surgery performed at UPMC. Your bariatric surgeon will perform gastric bypass surgery either:

  • Laparoscopically, making several small 1/4- to 1/2-inch abdominal incisions.
  • Traditionally as an "open" procedure, making one 10- to 12-inch abdominal incision.

Surgery time is approximately 1.5 hours, and the hospital stay is two to three days. Recovery time is about two weeks.

How you lose weight

Gastric Bypass Surgery restricts the amount of food you can eat and reduces the number of calories your body will absorb. Weight loss is rapid. Expect to lose 60 to 80 percent of excess body weight within 12 to 18 months after surgery.

Gastric Bypass Weight Loss Surgery: What to Expect

Here's what to expect if you're considering a gastric (stomach) bypass surgery procedure.

During gastric bypass surgery

After you receive general anesthesia, your bariatric surgeon will:

  • Assess the abdomen and then use surgical staples to create a small pouch at the top of your stomach.
    • This pouch — which over time can hold about one cup of food — will be your new, smaller stomach.
    • A normal stomach can hold more than four to six cups of food.
  • Cut the small intestine and attach it to the new pouch.
    • With the intestinal bypass, food will now move from the new stomach pouch to the middle section of the small intestine.
    • It will bypass the lower stomach and the upper section of the small intestine.
  • Attach the upper section of the small intestine to the middle section of the small intestine.
    • This will allow digestive fluids, that the lower stomach makes, move down the upper section of the small intestine and into the middle section.
  • Close the incisions with staples or stitches.

Why Is Gastric Bypass Surgery Performed?

Those who are severely overweight and cannot lose weight through diet and exercise may turn to gastric bypass surgery.

Undergoing gastric bypass surgery is a serious commitment to a healthier lifestyle — patients must:

  • Greatly change their lifestyle.
  • Learn to control portion sizes.
  • Exercise regularly.

Doctors may perform this procedure on patients with a high Body Mass Index as well as obesity-related health conditions.

After gastric bypass bariatric surgery

  • You can expect to stay in the hospital for two to three days.
  • The morning after your gastric bypass surgery, you will:
    • Start a clear liquid diet for at least two weeks. It's very important that you drink at least 64 ounces of fluid every day to avoid becoming dehydrated.
    • Begin to go for walks around your room and in the halls.
  • Immediately before discharge, your bariatric surgery team will give you instructions on how to care for yourself at home, including:
    • Incision and drainage care
    • Pain control
    • Vitamin supplements to get adequate amounts of vitamin B12, iron, and calcium

Benefits of Gastric Bypass Surgery

  • Long-term weight loss: Many people who undergo gastric bypass surgery experience rapid weight loss following the procedure and continue to lose weight months and years later.
  • Reducing or curing a variety of obesity-related illnesses, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea.
  • Improved quality of life and mood: Many people who undergo gastric bypass surgery report a decrease in depression and anxiety, as well as improved self-esteem, sexual function, and social interactions.

Find out more about the benefits of weight-loss surgery.

Gastric Bypass Surgery Requirements

People who qualify for gastric bypass surgery include:

  • Those with a Body Mass Index greater than or equal to 40, or who are more than 100 pounds overweight.
  • Those with a Body Mass Index greater than or equal to 35 who have at least two obesity-related conditions. This could include: Type 2 Diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease, among others.
  • Those who cannot achieve a healthy weight with diet and exercise.

Learn how to calculate your own Body Mass Index.

Dumping Syndrome and Other Gastric Bypass Surgery Risks

Dumping syndrome is a potential risk of gastric bypass surgery. It occurs when large volumes of food in the stomach move too quickly through the small intestine, frequently after eating sweet or high-fat foods.

Dumping syndrome can cause:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Cramps
  • Diarrhea
  • Sweating
  • Dizziness
  • Weakness

Other gastric bypass surgery risks and complications include:

  • Perforation of stomach or intestines
  • Leakage of surgical connection between the stomach and the intestine
  • Internal bleeding or profuse bleeding of the surgical wound
  • Gastric pouch/anastomotic obstruction or bowel obstruction

Your bariatric surgeon will review all potential gastric bypass surgery risks, complications, and other weight loss surgery options with you prior to your procedure. If you have any questions about gastric bypass surgery, we encourage you to ask your surgeon.

Learn more about what to expect after gastric bypass surgery.


Bariatric Patient Stories

Bariatric Information Sessions

Bariatric Contact Us Button

Bariatric Surgery Additional Resources

  • Benefits of bariatric surgery
  • Risks of bariatric surgery
  • Frequently Asked Questions About Bariatric Surgery
UPMC
200 Lothrop Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213

412-647-8762 800-533-8762

Patients And Visitors
  • Find a Doctor
  • Locations
  • Pay a Bill
  • Patient & Visitor Resources
  • Disabilities Resource Center
  • Services
  • Medical Records
  • No Surprises Act
  • Price Transparency
  • Financial Assistance
  • Classes & Events
  • Health Library
Health Care Professionals
  • Physician Information
  • Resources
  • Education & Training
  • Departments
  • Credentialing
Newsroom
  • Newsroom Home
  • Inside Life Changing Medicine Blog
  • News Releases
About
  • Why UPMC
  • Facts & Stats
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Community Commitment
  • Financials
  • Supporting UPMC
  • HealthBeat Blog
  • UPMC Apps
  • UPMC Enterprises
  • UPMC Health Plan
  • UPMC International
  • Nondiscrimination Policy
Life changing is...
Follow UPMC
  • Contact Us
  • Website/Email Terms of Use
  • Medical Advice Disclaimer
  • Privacy Information
  • Active Privacy Alerts
  • Sitemap
© 2025 UPMC I Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit healthwise.org
Find Care
Providers
Video Visit
Portal Login