Dangers of a Mini Gastric Bypass Surgery

Mini gastric bypass surgery has gained a lot of popularity recently. According to the American Society for Bariatric Surgery over 63,000 of the procedures were performed in 2002 alone. [1] With so many people getting this procedure, which for most people is an elective surgery that isn't necessary for weight loss but simply makes it easier for them to lose pounds, you might think that it is extremely safe. While deaths are an uncommon side effect of mini gastric bypass surgery, there are other risks that you run when you have the procedure done. If you're considering the procedure, think about these risks and weigh them with the potential outcome. You may decide that there are other methods of weight loss that you want to try before you resort to surgery.

During mini gastric bypass surgery, the patient's small intestine is rerouted. This bypasses some of the stomach, limiting the amount of fat and calories that can be absorbed. In theory, this works well. It will reduce the amount of fat and calories that you absorb... but it will also reduce the amount of nutrients that you absorb. Many patients experience deficiencies in calcium, vitamin B, and iron. [2] These are important nutrients for a person's health. Low calcium intake can cause early onset of osteoporosis and brittle bones. Vitamin B deficiency can cause cheilosis (inflammation and scaling of the lips), sore throat, photophobia, dandruff, and glossitis (inflammation of the tongue). Vitamin B is also necessary in several brain functions. A deficiency can cause memory loss, sluggishness, and anxiety. [3] Iron is needed for many enzymes to function properly. If your iron is low then you may develop fatigue, pallor, irritability, weakness, and pica (the desire to consume items that normally would not be considered acceptable, such as dirt or laundry detergent). [4]