Mini gastric bypass in Medellín
COP 20,000,000 to 32,000,000, done laparoscopically with a single connection between the stomach and the intestine
The mini gastric bypass, also called one anastomosis gastric bypass, OAGB, MGB or BAGUA, is a variant of gastric bypass that combines restriction and malabsorption with a single intestinal connection. At MDE Care we explain how it differs from the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, tell you the cost before you decide and coordinate your assessment with a bariatric surgeon and, if you are traveling, your stay in Medellín.
1 connection
between stomach and intestine
35 min
shorter than Roux-en-Y bypass
75%
of excess weight at 5 years
80%
type 2 diabetes remission
USD 17,000 to 26,000
cost in the United States
Mini bypass or Roux-en-Y bypass: compare based on what matters to you
Both techniques achieve similar weight loss. Select what matters most to you and we will show you which one is usually favored, why, and what each one costs.
What matters most to you?
You can select more than one option.
No preferences selected: the scale is in the center.
How they are alike
- Both are done laparoscopically
- Similar weight loss at 2 years
- Similar metabolic improvement
- Lifelong supplements
How they differ, in numbers
35 min
less surgery time with the mini bypass
0.58
relative risk of overall complications compared with Roux-en-Y
4%
develop bile reflux with the mini bypass
3%
are later converted to a Roux-en-Y bypass
Your comparison
Select what matters most to you
Mini gastric bypass, estimated cost
COP 20,000,000 to COP 32,000,000
Why
- Each option you select adds weight to one technique, backed by the published figure.
In the United States, the mini bypass costs between USD 17,000 and 26,000 when paid out of pocket.
* Estimated result, based on published studies. It does not replace the judgment of the bariatric surgeon, who decides on the technique at the assessment based on your medical history and your tests. Reference costs; the final quote is provided after the assessment.
What result could you expect with a mini bypass?
Using your height and weight, we calculate your excess weight and what the published 5-year average represents for you.
Your BMI is 42.2. Your reference weight, at a BMI of 25, is 68 kg, so your excess weight is 47 kg. With a mini bypass, patients lose an average of 75% of their excess weight at 5 years.
At 5 years, on average
You would lose about
35 kg
To reach about
80 kg
The bar represents your excess weight; the purple part is the 75% lost on average at 5 years.
Beyond weight: reported remission of related conditions
Type 2 diabetes
80%
complete remission and 88% improvement
High blood pressure
61%
remission
Sleep apnea
89%
remission
Averages from a review of 32 studies with 19,125 patients. Each patient's result depends on adherence to the diet, supplements, physical activity and follow-up. This is an estimate, not a guaranteed result, and it does not replace the judgment of the bariatric surgeon.
What a mini gastric bypass is and how it works
The surgeon creates a long, narrow gastric pouch along the lesser curvature of the stomach, sized with a 36 French bougie and without including the gastric fundus. That pouch is joined with a single anastomosis to a loop of the small intestine, so food bypasses 150 to 200 centimeters of intestine.
That is why it is called a one anastomosis or single anastomosis bypass: the traditional Roux-en-Y bypass requires two connections. The length of the limb is adjusted to each patient, and at least 300 centimeters of intestine must always remain in the food pathway.
It is done laparoscopically and can also be performed with robotic surgery. It has been endorsed by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) since May 2022 and by the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity (IFSO).
Restriction
The long, narrow pouch holds much smaller portions.
Malabsorption
Food bypasses 150 to 200 cm of intestine, and that segment does not absorb it.
A single connection
One anastomosis instead of two, which is why the surgery is shorter.
It can be converted
If needed, it can be converted into a Roux-en-Y bypass.
Who is a candidate for a mini gastric bypass?
It is usually indicated when
- BMI is 40 or higher.
- BMI is 35 or higher with diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea or another related condition.
- BMI is between 30 and 34.9 with a metabolic condition, such as type 2 diabetes, assessed case by case.
- BMI is 50 or higher: a group in which the technique has been specifically studied.
- There is a commitment to lifelong supplements and follow-up visits.
Criteria from the 2022 joint ASMBS and IFSO guideline.
It may be advised against with
- Severe gastroesophageal reflux: 75% of the experts in an international consensus agreed not to operate with a mini bypass.
- Barrett's esophagus: 89% agreed not to operate with a mini bypass.
These are relative contraindications. In those cases the surgeon usually recommends the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
Not sure whether you are a candidate? Use the bariatric surgery guide.
How much weight is lost with a mini bypass
Figures from a systematic review of 32 studies with 19,125 patients and from the IFSO.
75%
of excess weight
at 5 years
77%
of excess weight
after 5 years
30 to 40%
of total body weight
according to the IFSO
4%
significant weight regain
compared with 17.5% with the sleeve
In a randomized trial published in The Lancet (YOMEGA), the mini bypass was not inferior to the Roux-en-Y bypass in weight loss or metabolic improvement at 2 years.
Pros and cons compared with bypass and the sleeve
Pros
- Compared with the Roux-en-Y bypass, the surgery takes about 35 minutes less on average.
- Fewer overall complications than the Roux-en-Y bypass, with a relative risk of 0.58.
- Weight loss not inferior to that of the Roux-en-Y bypass at 2 years.
- Compared with the sleeve, a greater malabsorptive effect and less weight regain: 4% versus 17.5%.
Cons
- Risk of bile reflux, in about 4% of patients.
- More nutritional complications than the Roux-en-Y bypass when the limb is long.
- Compared with the sleeve, it requires lifelong supplements.
- Not recommended with severe reflux or Barrett's esophagus.
Swipe the table to see all three techniques.
| Mini bypass | Roux-en-Y bypass | Gastric sleeve | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Restriction and malabsorption, one connection | Restriction, malabsorption and a hormonal effect, two connections | Restriction and less hunger, no connections |
| Weight loss | 75% of excess weight at 5 years | 75 to 85% of excess weight at 2 years | 60 to 70% of excess weight at 18 to 24 months |
| Surgery time | About 35 minutes less than Roux-en-Y | 2 to 3 hours | 1 to 2 hours |
| Reflux | Bile reflux in about 4%; not recommended with severe reflux | Improves in most patients | Can get worse |
| Supplements | Lifelong, with attention to iron and fat-soluble vitamins | Lifelong | Fewer, ideally a lifelong multivitamin |
| Cost | COP 20,000,000 to 32,000,000 | From COP 26,000,000 | From COP 23,000,000 |
| More information | This page | Gastric bypass | Gastric sleeve |
See every technique on bariatric surgery in Medellín.
Recovery and lifelong supplements
Hospital stay
Similar to that of the Roux-en-Y bypass and, on average, slightly shorter: 0.27 days less. The surgeon will tell you how many days in your case.
Diet
The team sets your plan. As a reference, it follows phases similar to those of gastric bypass: liquids, purées, a soft diet and then an adapted regular diet.
Returning to work
There is no specific figure for the mini bypass: the surgeon decides based on your progress. As a reference, after gastric bypass, desk work is resumed in 2 to 3 weeks.
Supplements after a mini bypass
They are comparable to those of the Roux-en-Y bypass and are lifelong. Because of malabsorption, there is a higher risk of iron and fat-soluble vitamin deficiency, and some patients develop steatorrhea, that is, fatty stools.
| Supplement | Recommended minimum | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Elemental iron | 45 to 60 mg a day | Prevent iron deficiency anemia, reported in 4% of patients. |
| Thiamine (vitamin B1) | At least 12 mg a day | The minimum the ASMBS recommends for all bariatric patients. |
| Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K) | Based on lab results | They are absorbed with fat, which the mini bypass reduces. |
| Complete micronutrients | Roux-en-Y bypass regimen | Cover what is no longer absorbed in the bypassed intestine. |
ASMBS minimums. The team adjusts the doses based on your follow-up lab tests.
Why follow-up is lifelong
Follow-up visits and lab tests make it possible to detect iron or vitamin deficiencies early and adjust supplements before symptoms appear.
Risks of a mini gastric bypass
Like any surgery, the mini bypass has risks. As with any surgery, there are general risks such as bleeding, thrombosis or infection. These are the risks specific to the mini bypass, with the frequencies reported in the review of 32 studies. The surgeon reviews them with you at the assessment, and follow-up care exists to detect them early.
Bile reflux
4%
This is the risk specific to the technique. No link to stomach or esophageal cancer has been shown.
Iron deficiency anemia
4%
It is prevented with iron and follow-up lab tests.
Conversion to Roux-en-Y bypass
3%
Mainly due to bile reflux.
Marginal ulcer
2%
An ulcer at the connection between the stomach and the intestine.
Malnutrition
1%
More likely with longer limbs. In the YOMEGA trial, 9 of 42 serious adverse events with the mini bypass were nutritional, compared with none with the Roux-en-Y bypass.
Diarrhea and steatorrhea
They were more frequent with a 200 cm limb. That is why the surgeon adjusts the limb length to each patient.
Your mini gastric bypass in Medellín, step by step
The surgeon decides at the assessment how many days you should stay in Medellín. As a reference, a stay of 5 to 7 days is recommended for gastric bypass. Much of the preparation is handled remotely.
Step 1
Contact us on WhatsApp
Tell us about your case, your height, your weight and whether you have reflux.
Step 2
Video call with the surgeon
Initial assessment without traveling.
Step 3
Pre-surgery tests
Those the surgeon orders, such as lab work and endoscopy.
Step 4
Quote in US dollars
With a breakdown of what is included.
Step 6
Telehealth follow-up
Follow-up visits and lab tests to adjust your supplements.
About mini gastric bypass in Medellín
How much does a mini gastric bypass cost in Medellín?
What is the difference between a mini bypass and a traditional gastric bypass?
How much weight is lost with a mini bypass?
Does a mini bypass cause bile reflux?
Does a mini bypass help with diabetes?
Will I have to take vitamins for life?
Is the mini bypass an approved or experimental surgery?
Can a mini bypass be reversed or converted?
Not sure whether the mini bypass is the right technique for you?
The bariatric surgery guide compares your case with every option, with and without surgery.
Other bariatric surgery options
Request your mini gastric bypass quote in Medellín
Tell us your height, your weight, whether you have reflux and where you are traveling from. We will send you the cost of your process and coordinate your assessment with the bariatric surgeon.