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Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass · RYGB

The most powerful tool for type-2 diabetes and severe reflux.

A 60+ year-old procedure, refined over decades. The gastric bypass combines stomach reduction with intestinal re-routing to deliver the strongest metabolic benefit of any bariatric surgery — and the most durable long-term weight loss in the hands of an experienced surgeon.

All-inclusive · from
$5,800
vs $20,000–$28,000
self-pay in the U.S.
Gastric bypass surgery patients at Pompeii Surgical
~80%
type-2 diabetes remission — often within weeks of surgery
$5,800
All-inclusive
70–80%
Excess weight loss
~80%
Type-2 diabetes remission
~90 min
Procedure time · laparoscopic
The procedure

What is the gastric bypass?

The Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) is a two-step procedure performed laparoscopically in about 90 minutes. First, the surgeon creates a small egg-sized stomach pouch at the top of the stomach — the rest of the stomach stays in place, but no food passes through it. Second, the small intestine is re-routed and connected directly to the new pouch.

The result: you eat less, you absorb less, and — remarkably — your body's metabolic signaling is fundamentally changed. Hunger hormones drop. Insulin sensitivity improves almost immediately. This is why gastric bypass is one of the most studied and effective treatments for type-2 diabetes in modern medicine.

Powerful metabolic effect
Often resolves type-2 diabetes within days — before meaningful weight loss has even occurred.
GERD solution
The bypass is the definitive fix for severe acid reflux — the sleeve can make GERD worse; the bypass resolves it.
50+ years of data
The longest-studied bariatric procedure. Long-term outcomes are extensively documented and predictable.
Highest durable weight loss
70–80% excess weight loss on average — typically 10–15% more than the sleeve, with better long-term maintenance.
Egg-sized pouch
Gastric bypass anatomical illustration showing stomach pouch and re-routed intestine
Sleeve vs Bypass

How do I know which is right for me?

Both procedures are excellent. Which one is right depends on your body, your medical history, and your goals. Here's the honest comparison — and your coordinator (with our surgical team's input) will help you decide.

Gastric Sleeve
Gastric Bypass
Price (all-inclusive)
$4,900
$5,800
Excess weight loss
60–70%
70–80%
Type-2 diabetes remission
~60%
~80%
Severe GERD / reflux
Can worsen reflux
Resolves reflux
Surgery complexity
Simpler
More complex
Intestinal re-routing
None
Yes
Lifelong vitamins
Yes
Yes — more critical
Best candidate
Most first-time patients
Diabetes · severe GERD · higher BMI

Still not sure? Take the 2-minute quiz → or apply and your coordinator will walk you through the decision with our surgical team's input. No procedure is upsold; the right one is the one that fits you.

Candidacy

Is the gastric bypass right for you?

The bypass is especially strong for patients dealing with type-2 diabetes, severe reflux, higher BMI, or a failed previous bariatric procedure. If any of the below describe you, it's worth a conversation.

You're likely a strong candidate if…

  • BMI of 35+ (roughly 70+ lbs overweight)
  • BMI of 30–34 with type-2 diabetes, sleep apnea, or hypertension
  • You have severe acid reflux / GERD that medications can't control
  • You've been diagnosed with type-2 diabetes and want the best odds of remission
  • You had a gastric sleeve that didn't deliver — sleeve-to-bypass conversion is one of our specialties
  • You're committed to daily vitamins and routine follow-up, for life
  • You're between 18 and 70 years old (exceptions by case)
Honest note: the bypass is a more complex surgery than the sleeve, with slightly higher complication rates in any surgeon's hands. That's why it matters so much who performs it. Our board-certified bariatric team has done thousands — and every bypass at Pompeii is backed by included complication insurance.
Realistic results

The first 18 months, honestly.

Bypass weight loss is faster than the sleeve in the early months and reaches a higher plateau. These are average excess weight loss (EWL) ranges across thousands of Pompeii bypass patients. Individual results depend heavily on adherence and lifestyle.

What affects your results

  • Strict post-op diet progression — especially the first 6 weeks
  • Daily protein targets (60–80g) and vitamin adherence
  • Walking immediately, building to strength and cardio
  • Avoiding high-sugar / high-fat foods (to prevent dumping syndrome)
  • Staying engaged with coordinators & community
First 3 months40–50% EWL
6 months60–70% EWL
12–18 months70–80% EWL
EWL = Excess Weight Loss. Bypass typically maintains results better than the sleeve long-term.
Beyond the scale

The bypass is weight loss — and a full metabolic reset.

Gastric bypass is one of the most extensively studied interventions in modern medicine. For most patients, the co-morbidities that felt permanent begin to resolve within weeks — often before significant weight has been lost.

~80%

Type-2 diabetes remission

The highest rate of any bariatric procedure. Many patients stop diabetes medications within days — before meaningful weight loss has even happened.

~95%

Severe GERD resolution

The bypass is the gold-standard fix for severe acid reflux. Patients routinely stop PPI medications and sleep flat for the first time in years.

~70%

Heart & blood-pressure improvement

Major reductions in hypertension, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and cardiac risk markers. Many patients reduce or eliminate medications.

85%+

Sleep apnea resolution

The vast majority of patients with obstructive sleep apnea see dramatic improvement — many can retire the CPAP within 6–12 months.

4x

Joint pain relief

Every pound lost removes ~4 lbs of force on your knees. Back, hip, and knee pain often transform within months.

Restored fertility & mental wellbeing

Weight loss restores hormonal balance. Reduced depression and anxiety, restored self-esteem, improved libido, and often successful conception after years of infertility.

All-inclusive pricing

One price. Everything included. No surprises.

U.S. self-pay gastric bypass averages $20,000–$28,000 — often with add-on charges layered on top. At Pompeii, what you see is what you pay.

Gastric Bypass · RYGB
All-Inclusive Package
$5,800 USD
vs $20,000–$28,000 self-pay in the U.S.

What's included

  • Pre-op testing & consultation
  • Surgery with our board-certified surgical team
  • 2 nights hospital + 1 night hotel
  • Anesthesia & all medications
  • Ground transport (airport / border)
  • On-site nutritionist visits
  • Complication insurance
  • Lifetime aftercare & community
Complication insurance included Full refund if ineligible Same-day financing available Surgery in 2–4 weeks
Your 5 days in Tijuana

The day-by-day, minute-by-minute plan.

From the moment you land in San Diego to the plane ride home — here's exactly what happens. A real coordinator guides you every step.

1
Weeks Before · Application & Approval

Apply in 5 minutes, approved in 2–3 days

Complete our online application — we review your medical history and call you within one business day. Financing (if needed) is set up, pre-op labs scheduled, surgery date locked. Most patients fly in 2–4 weeks after approval.

2
Two Weeks Before · Pre-Op Prep

The pre-op liquid diet & final labs

A 2-week protein-shake based liquid diet shrinks your liver and makes surgery significantly safer — especially important for the bypass. We send detailed daily instructions and your nutritionist is on-call for questions.

3
Day 1 · Arrival

San Diego pickup & hospital admission

We pick you up from San Diego (SAN) airport and drive you across the border to Tijuana. You meet your surgical team, complete final labs and EKG, and settle into your private room. Tonight: rest.

4
Day 2 · Surgery Day

Your ~90-minute laparoscopic bypass

Your bariatric surgeon performs your Roux-en-Y gastric bypass laparoscopically — just 4–5 small incisions. Within a few hours of waking, you're walking the hallway (early movement prevents clots and speeds healing).

5
Days 2–3 · Hospital Recovery

24/7 nursing, pain management, first sips

Two nights with 24/7 bariatric nurses monitoring you. Gentle walking, sips of clear liquids, personalized pain management. Your surgeon checks in personally. Your coordinator is with you through every step.

6
Day 4 · Hotel & Discharge

One night in a luxury recovery hotel

Once cleared by your surgeon, you transfer to a luxury hotel near the hospital for one more night under observation — comfort, rest, and a final check-in before flying home. (An extra hospital night is always an option if you need it.)

7
Day 5 · Fly Home

Ground transport back across the border

Our driver picks you up at the hotel and takes you back across the San Ysidro border to San Diego airport. You're home that evening. Desk workers return to work in a few days; physical jobs, 2–3 weeks.

8
Weeks & Years After · Lifetime Aftercare

Never on your own again

Weekly coordinator check-ins during diet progression. On-call nutritionists. The 70,000+ member private Facebook community for real-time support. Annual lab-work reminders (especially important after bypass). Years later — we're still here.

Risk, reversed

If anything goes wrong, we own it.

Because the bypass is a more complex surgery than the sleeve, it matters more than ever that your surgeon's work is backed up. At Pompeii, complication insurance is included at no extra cost with every bypass — surgical costs, extended hospital stays, nursing, even flight and hotel rebooking. And a full refund if you're medically ineligible to safely proceed.

  • All surgical costs & additional procedures covered
  • Extended hospital stays & nursing covered
  • Flight & hotel rebooking paid for
  • Full refund if you're medically ineligible
See full coverage
Pompeii complication insurance protects every bypass patient
Bypass patient stories

Real bypass patients. Real transformations.

Verified Google reviews from Pompeii bypass patients. 4.9-star average across 5,000+ reviews.

"These people saved my life."

Clean facilities, thorough customer service. The staff and doctors go out of their way for you, at a reasonable all-inclusive price.

Carl Gardner
Verified Google review · Gastric Bypass
Read →

"Off my diabetes meds in a week."

I had type-2 diabetes for 12 years and was on insulin. Within a week of my bypass, my blood sugar was normal without medication. Pompeii changed my life.

Pompeii patient
Private Facebook community · Bypass

"I can sleep flat for the first time in 15 years."

My GERD was so severe I slept upright every night. My Pompeii surgeon recommended bypass over sleeve because of the reflux. Best decision I ever made — no PPIs, no reflux, down 110 lbs.

Pompeii patient
Private Facebook community · Bypass

"Down 140 lbs, off 6 medications."

Blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, sleep apnea, reflux, antidepressants — the bypass ended all of them. I have my life back.

Pompeii patient
Private Facebook community · Bypass
Honest answers

Everything else patients ask before they fly.

Real questions. Honest answers. No marketing fluff.

Is the gastric bypass more dangerous than the sleeve?

The bypass is technically more complex than the sleeve and has a slightly higher complication rate in any surgeon's hands — that's just surgical reality. But in experienced hands, bypass complication rates are still very low (well under 5%), and the medical benefits often outweigh the added risk, especially for patients with type-2 diabetes or severe GERD. Every bypass at Pompeii is backed by included complication insurance — if anything happens while you're in our care, we cover it.

What is dumping syndrome?

Dumping syndrome is a reaction that can occur when bypass patients eat high-sugar or high-fat foods. Symptoms include nausea, sweating, rapid heartbeat, and diarrhea, typically within 30 minutes of eating. It's uncomfortable but not dangerous — and for many patients, it actually becomes a useful deterrent against "cheat" foods. It can usually be avoided entirely by following our nutrition guidance: prioritize protein, avoid refined sugar, eat slowly.

Why do I need lifelong vitamins after a bypass?

Because the intestine is re-routed, your body absorbs fewer nutrients than before. You'll need a daily bariatric multivitamin, calcium with vitamin D, vitamin B12, and iron for life. This is more critical than after a sleeve. We send you home with a detailed vitamin protocol, and annual lab work (which we help arrange) makes sure everything stays in range. Most patients find it becomes automatic — a small daily habit in exchange for a profoundly better life.

Can the bypass be reversed?

Technically yes — the bypass can be reversed, unlike the sleeve. In practice, reversals are rarely needed and rarely recommended, because doing so typically returns the patient to their pre-surgery weight and metabolic state. The bypass is designed to be a lifelong tool; reversals are reserved for unusual medical circumstances.

What if I regain weight years later?

Some weight regain after any bariatric surgery is normal — typically 5–10% of initial lost weight in the 5+ year window. Meaningful regain almost always traces back to drifting from the core habits: protein-first eating, portion control, regular movement, and vitamin adherence. That's why our aftercare matters — coordinators, nutritionists, and the 70,000+ community help you stay on track years after surgery. For more significant regain, pouch revisions are an option.

How long is recovery? When can I work?

You'll spend 2 nights in our hospital and 1 night in a luxury hotel — about 4–5 days total in Tijuana. Desk workers can return to work within a few days of getting home. If your job requires lifting over 20 lbs, plan for 2–3 weeks off. Bypass recovery is typically a few days longer than the sleeve, but still dramatically faster than most patients expect.

What can I eat after the bypass?

You'll follow a progressive diet: clear liquids for the first few days, then full liquids for 2 weeks, pureed foods for 2 weeks, soft foods for 2 weeks, then regular foods. Long-term, you'll eat 3–4 oz per meal, protein first. Most foods are fine in moderation — but high-sugar and high-fat foods can trigger dumping syndrome (which many patients find is a helpful guardrail).

Does insurance ever cover surgery in Mexico?

U.S. insurance typically does not cover surgery performed in Mexico. Some HSA/FSA accounts can be used — check with your plan administrator. For most patients, the all-inclusive Mexico price is still significantly lower than a U.S. self-pay copay + deductible + out-of-pocket maximum. We offer same-day financing with $0 down for many patients. See financing options →
The first step

Your new chapter starts with a 5-minute application.

No payment now. No insurance hassles. A real coordinator reaches out within one business day to walk you through everything — pricing, financing, and whether the bypass is the right fit.

Board-certified 30,000+ patients Complication insurance Full refund if ineligible
Call Signup to Apply