Gastric bypass surgery shrinks the size of your stomach, so you can't eat as much as you used to. The surgeon will also re-route, or bypass, part of your digestive system so you don't absorb as much food.

There are several types of gastric bypass surgery:

• Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
• Extensive gastric bypass (biliopancreatic diversion)

People who have gastric bypass surgery are at risk for:

• Pouch stretching. The stomach gets bigger over time, stretchingback to its original size.
• Breakdown of staple lines. The staples fall apart.
• Nutritional, vitamin, and mineral deficiencies. Your body will be less able to get nutrients from food.
• Stomal stenosis. A narrowing forms at the connection of the stomach and small intestine causing nausea, vomiting, reflux, and then an inability to eat. This will need to be dilated.