So, I was convinced the procedure I wanted was a gastric sleeve... then I did some research and decided that a gastric bypass was the surgery for me. I get a phone call today from JoAnne at BeLiteWeight to schedule my surgery (8/12/17!!!!!) and she mentions a MINI gastric bypass???? I have no idea what this is and it's not as easy to find info on it. Has anyone had one? Is there anything you can tell me? Help!

The mini is also called an Omega Loop. It's not frequently done in the US. Before making a final decision, if you were to need help after going back home, who would help? What is their expertise? Personally my local surgeons do the RNY and sleeve, so I made my choice between those.

Thanks for your perspective, Berry! I really hadn't thought of it that way. I do live in a very large metropolitan area so there are a few people who do the procedure near me from what I've found. I think it was really smart to make your decision based on that. Another reassuring thing for me is that I don't live very far from Mexico (where I'm getting my surgery done).

Now that you've made me aware of another name for the procedure, I was able to find more useful information and I feel a little more comfortable with the idea.

Its very strange.. I've been looking into WLS for the past 4 years and felt like I knew all of my options.

The options keep expanding, that's for sure!

I think the biggest concern with the mini is the potential for bile reflux. There was a person on the board that had it happen, but I'm not sure if/how she got sorted out.

It sure would be nice if there was a "perfect procedure", but so far it hasn't been created. At this point, from what I see, all 4 main surgical options have semi-equivalent benefits. It's the complications that vary so much. (So that is what I would focus on to make a decision).

22 hours ago, N0VA said:

So, I was convinced the procedure I wanted was a gastric sleeve... then I did some research and decided that a gastric bypass was the surgery for me. I get a phone call today from JoAnne at BeLiteWeight to schedule my surgery (8/12/17!!!!!) and she mentions a MINI gastric bypass???? I have no idea what this is and it's not as easy to find info on it. Has anyone had one? Is there anything you can tell me? Help!

when i made the decision to get bariatric surgery, i knew i didn't want the VSG but i was unsure between the RNY or the mini-bypass. after all, the mini-bypass offers as good if not better weight loss results (about 5%) with a shorter operating time.

there are two prominent surgeons who perform this procedure. one is Dr. Rutledge (Arizona i think) and Dr. Hargroder in Missouri. i went thru Hargroder's online seminars and stuff and was sure i was going to make the trip to Joplin, MO to do the surgery.

but i wanted to meet with my local bariatric office (center of excellence) to hear his opinion on bariatric options and most importantly, why they don't offer the mini-bypass. my surgeon is the director of the medical group who has done over 3,000 bariatric surgeries. he said that the mini-bypass was the original bariatric surgery back in the 60's and 70's! however, the RNY was developed from the mini-bypass specifically to avoid the mini's biggest complication - reflux/GERD. it is a not-rare complication from the mini that develops because the anastomosis connects the small intestines (with digestive juices) straight to the bottom of the new stomach pouch. so that's why it's easy for bile and other digestive juices to go the wrong way - up the pouch and into your esophagus. the RNY technique avoids this by creating a "roux limb" so that the pouch is not connected straight to digestive juices.

as soon as he said that, i realized RNY was the better procedure. he said so what if the mini gives you 5% more weight loss on average if you then suffer from major acid reflux? he said if i lose 150lbs, i'll be over the moon happy with no chance of acid reflux, and the last thing that will happen is me wishing i lost 157lbs.

he also said he's had to reverse a good number of mini-bypasses because of the acid reflux problem. he said it can be truly horrific, that one time he did an endoscopy and one patient's esophagus looked like raw hamburger meat.

he said if they ever "solve" that issue, they might look into it again, but the risk/reward just isn't worth it. that's also why it's not an approved surgery by the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

not to mention that my support team would be half-way across the country in Joplin, MO. i'm so much more comfortable with my team and hospital 30 minutes down the road. that's an important aspect.

How strange, I was told the mini bypass had less chance of GERD than RNY. Thanks for sharing! (looking into that)

Edited August 3, 20179 yr by N0VA

From what I've been told, there was a mini bypass that had problems with reflux and then they came up with the Omega Loop which is supposed to solve those problems.

4 hours ago, N0VA said:

How strange, I was told the mini bypass had less chance of GERD than RNY. Thanks for sharing! (looking into that)

i'm curious, who told you that?

2 hours ago, N0VA said:

From what I've been told, there was a mini bypass that had problems with reflux and then they came up with the Omega Loop which is supposed to solve those problems.

hmmm... no, they are interchangeable terms for the same procedure.

They aren't saying the Omega Loop isn't a mini bypass. They're saying it's a newer version of the Mini Bypass. I will just have to dig deeper. But either way I'm pretty set on what I'm doing anyway. (at this point*)

Edited August 4, 20179 yr by N0VA

i'd be interested to know the difference if you find out.

best of luck to you! i'm still very curious about the mini so please keep us updated. and while reflux can be a problem, the rate is low and getting lower, so it is still unlikely that you'll suffer from it. i didn't want to scare you. odds are you will have great success.

Thanks, JohnnyCakes! I'll keep you guys posted for sure.

Dr. Rutledge loaded up a video bout bile reflux only recently.

Here he talks about the MGB/Omega Loop:

Very interesting! Thank you for sharing!

I had the mini gastric bypass done 16 days ago.

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How is your recovery going?