Complications From Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric bypass surgery is a major surgical procedure that comes with many risks. While it may seem to be an easy solution for rapid and permanent weight loss, people should educate themselves about the many complications that are possible after gastric bypass surgery.

Death

• According to a clinical study published in 2004 in the "Journal of the American College of Surgeons," 2 percent of people who have gastric bypass surgery die within 30 days of the surgery.

Infection

• There is a risk of infection at the surgical site right after surgery. There is also a risk of developing an infection because of leakage from the stomach or bowel at any time after having gastric bypass surgery.

Excessive Vomiting

• Vomiting is a common complication after gastric bypass surgery. Excessive vomiting or vomiting blood can happen when there is a bowel obstruction or a perforation of the stomach or bowel.

Bone and Hair Loss

• The body of a person who has had gastric bypass surgery does not absorb vitamins and minerals as well as it did before the surgery. This can lead to hair loss and a serious condition called bone reabsorption, which is when the body draws vitamins and minerals out of bones, making them weaker and more likely to break.

Abdominal Adhesions

• Weight loss surgery can lead to abdominal adhesions, which is the fusing of abdominal tissue. This may require further surgeries to correct.

Anemia

• Anemia can occur in patients who have had gastric bypass surgery because their bodies are unable to absorb nutrients efficiently.