For decades, the Roux-en- Y gastric bypass was considered the most successful bariatric surgery procedure available. Although it has fallen a bit out of favor recently to gastric sleeve, gastric bypass still remains an excellent choice for weight loss candidates, with an average of 65% to 75% excess weight loss and a strong reduction in obesity-related diseases.
But the traditional gastric bypass was not without its issues. The primary issue is that the surgery itself is long and complex, and while there are excellent bariatric surgeons to perform the procedure, the more an individual is on the operating table the more complications they may have.
Introduction to the Mini Gastric Bypass
An alternative procedure that is gaining popularity with bariatric surgeons around the world is known as the “Mini Gastric Bypass.” Mini-Gastric Bypass (MGB) was originally performed in September of 1997 by Dr. Robert Rutledge. The procedure is similar in many ways – it bypasses the intestines, it decreases the amount of food you can consume, and more. But it also has some clear differences that may make it a preferred choice for certain patients.
Difference Between Mini Gastric Bypass and (Roux-en- Y) Gastric Bypass
The main difference between traditional gastric bypass and mini gastric bypass is related to the degree of surgical difficulty. Mini gastric bypass is a much shorter and less complex procedure. With Roux-en- Y, the surgeon creates two connections with the intestines for food to pass through – an upper and a lower anastomosis. With a mini gastric bypass, only one connection is created, thus simplifying the procedure substantially.
Why does a simpler surgery matter to you?
- The less time spent in surgery, the fewer complications there will be.
- The easier the surgery, the less room there is for surgical error.
- The faster the surgery, the lower the costs.
All surgeries carry risk, and so the mini-gastric bypass gives both surgeons and patients a chance to avoid some of those risks and increase their chances for a safe outcome, all without sacrificing the results.
Why Don’t More People Get Mini Gastric Bypass?
Even though mini-gastric bypass appears to provide similar results with less surgical risk, it is not nearly as common a procedure. The primary reason is that a mini-gastric bypass is not generally covered by insurance. Compared to traditional gastric bypass, this method is considered a newer procedure and thus deemed “experimental” by insurance companies.
Mini Gastric Bypass in Tijuana, Mexico
Although the mini-gastric bypass surgery is not common in the United States, it has quickly grown in popularity around the world. That makes it an excellent candidate for medical tourism. It is an especially common procedure for bariatric surgery in Mexico.
The costs of weight loss surgery in Mexico are a fraction of the price in the US and abroad – sometimes as little as 25% or less. That allows those that could be priced out of these lifesaving procedures to receive the same quality treatment in an area like Tijuana, where the mini-gastric bypass cost in Mexico is only a few thousand compared to a procedure that is as much as $20,000 or more elsewhere in the world.