Gastric Bypass Requirements:

A lot of gastric bypass requirements should be considered before a person can be a candidate for the surgery. The physician would know best if a patient is a good candidate for a gastric bypass or Vertical Banded Gastroplasty, so it’s best to divulge a complete and accurate medical history. A patient should have the following requirements:

•    Obesity is not caused by diseases or side effects of medications
•    Body Mass Index of 40 or higher
•    weighs twice ideal body weight, or is 100 lbs over ideal body weight
•    Shows eagerness and commitment to lifestyle changes that include eating habits, exercise, and continued medical supervision since the patient has to strictly follow a gastric bypass diet plan after the surgery
•    No co morbid conditions such as bone diseases or vitamin deficiencies because this can aggravate potential gastric bypass long term complications
•    Has tried a lot of medically supervised weight reduction programs, but failed
•    Non smoker or has quit smoking for at least ninety days
•    Has financial capability for the gastric bypass cost

Medical contraindications and other gastric bypass requirements

Aside from the above gastric bypass requirements, other factors should be considered to include a patient in the surgery. Although gastric bypass has been a last choice for obese patients to reduce weight, some would not qualify for the surgery because of major contraindications which include the following:

•    History of substance abuse or narcotic dependency
•    History of psychiatric disorders
•    End-stage organ disease such as hepatic, renal, cardiac and pulmonary
•    Extremes of age
•    Endocrine disorders that includes Cushing’s Syndrome and Prader Willi Syndrome
•    Psychological instability

Occurrence of the above contraindications may increase risk for post surgical complications that may lead to potential life threatening conditions. Strict compliance to the gastric bypass requirements would contribute to the success of the surgery and worthy investment for the gastric bypass cost.