Malabsorptive Procedures

Malabsorption in relation to weight-loss surgery basically means reducing the amount of calories absorbed into the body.

This method of surgery usually results in significantly greater weight loss than restrictive procedures.

Decreasing caloric absorption is usually accomplished through food bypassing portions of the stomach and small intestine. Gastric bypass is the most commonly utilized bariatric surgery. Because this procedure results in food bypassing points of the digestive system where it is normally absorbed, there is a risk of not receiving enough nutrients from your diet. You must carefully follow a diet of certain foods and avoid other types of food altogether, and take supplements and medications as prescribed by your physician. Your physician will also require you to undergo close monitoring and make regular office visits to check progress and potential problems.

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
One of the most commonly performed malabsorptive procedures is the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. It is considered something of the "gold standard" within the medical communities for bariatric surgery.

In this procedure, a small stomach pouch is created from the larger stomach. This pouch is then connected to the small intestine. This results in your feeling full after eating a small amount and, because the majority of the stomach and part of the small intestine are bypassed, less food and fats are absorbed.