Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass in Bangkok, Thailand
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass is keyhole surgery that creates a small stomach pouch and joins it to the small bowel, so food bypasses most of the stomach and the first part of the intestine. At YOUNIFY Clinic, a Healthy Aging & Wellness Center based in Bangkok, Thailand, gastric bypass starts from THB 449,000. Surgery is performed by the clinic's bariatric surgical team at a JCI- or AACI-accredited partner private hospital, and your price is confirmed in a written quotation before any deposit.
Last updated:
At a glance
- Procedure
- Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
- Starting from (THB)
- Gastric bypass from 449,000
- Hospital stay
- Confirmed at consultation
- Time in Bangkok
- Confirmed at consultation
- Who performs
- Confirmed at consultation
- Where
- JCI- or AACI-accredited partner private hospital, Bangkok
- Last reviewed
- October 4, 2026
Key takeaways
- A Roux-en-Y gastric bypass makes a small stomach pouch and re-routes food past most of the stomach and the first part of the small bowel.
- In the SM-BOSS and SLEEVEPASS randomised trials, gastric bypass led to somewhat more weight loss than sleeve gastrectomy at 5 and 10 years.
- A bypass is often preferred for people with significant reflux, and it is an established option for type 2 diabetes.
- Gastric bypass at YOUNIFY Clinic starts from THB 449,000, confirmed in a written quotation before any deposit.
Price
| Procedure | Starting from (THB) |
|---|---|
| Gastric Bypass (Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, RYGB) | 449,000 |
How a gastric bypass works
First, the surgeon divides the upper stomach to make a small pouch. Second, a loop of small bowel is brought up and joined to the pouch. Food passes from the pouch straight into this loop, bypassing the rest of the stomach and the first part of the small bowel, the duodenum. The bypassed stomach stays in place and its digestive juices join the food further down.
Who a gastric bypass may suit
The 2022 guideline from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO) sets out who should be offered metabolic and bariatric surgery:
- Surgery is recommended for adults with a BMI of 35 or more, whether or not they have related health conditions.
- Surgery should be considered for adults with a BMI of 30 to 34.9 who have metabolic disease, such as type 2 diabetes.
Within this group, a bypass is often considered for people with:
- Significant reflux (GERD), a hiatus hernia or Barrett's oesophagus, because a bypass tends to improve reflux.
- Reflux or weight regain after a previous sleeve gastrectomy (see below).
Your surgeon looks at your health, previous operations, medicines and goals before recommending any procedure. The bariatric surgery overview compares all the options, including sleeve gastrectomy.
When a bypass may not be the right choice
- Regular use of anti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAIDs). These also raise ulcer risk. If you need them long term, a sleeve may be discussed instead.
- Not being able to commit to lifelong supplements and blood tests, or health conditions that are not yet controlled.
What results look like
Two randomised trials compared bypass with sleeve over the long term.
- SM-BOSS (Peterli and colleagues, JAMA, 2018; 217 patients). At 5 years, excess BMI loss averaged 68.3% after gastric bypass and 61.1% after sleeve gastrectomy. The difference was not statistically significant. Existing reflux went into remission in 60.4% after a bypass and 25.0% after a sleeve; it worsened or newly appeared in 6.3% after a bypass and 31.8% after a sleeve.
- SLEEVEPASS (Salminen and colleagues, JAMA Surgery, 2022; 240 patients). At 10 years, median excess weight loss was 50.7% after gastric bypass and 43.5% after sleeve gastrectomy. Remission of high blood pressure was more common after a bypass (24% vs 8%).
For type 2 diabetes, the STAMPEDE trial (Schauer and colleagues, New England Journal of Medicine, 2017) randomised people with type 2 diabetes to surgery or intensive medical therapy. At 5 years, 29% reached an HbA1c of 6.0% or less after gastric bypass, compared with 5% on medical therapy alone.
Excess weight loss is the share of weight above a healthy reference weight that was lost, not the share of total body weight. Loss is usually greatest in the first years, and some weight often returns later. These are study averages; results vary by individual.
Risks and side effects
A bypass is a more complex operation than a sleeve. Your surgeon explains how each risk applies to you.
- Leak from a join, uncommon but serious; it may need drainage or further surgery.
- Bleeding, during or after surgery.
- Narrowing (stricture) at the join, causing difficulty eating or vomiting; usually treated by endoscopic stretching.
- Marginal ulcer at the join, more likely with smoking or NSAID use.
- Internal hernia, where bowel slips through a gap created by the re-routing, sometimes years later. Cramping abdominal pain after a bypass needs prompt assessment.
- Dumping syndrome. Sugary or rich food passes quickly into the bowel, causing faintness, sweating, cramps or diarrhoea. Low blood sugar a few hours after meals can also occur.
- Nutritional deficiency, particularly iron, vitamin B12, calcium and vitamin D. Lifelong vitamin and mineral supplements and regular blood tests are recommended.
- Further surgery. In SLEEVEPASS, 18.5% of patients had a reoperation within 10 years after a bypass.
- Alcohol is absorbed faster after a bypass.
If weight returns after a bypass, the outlet can sometimes be narrowed from the inside; see Redo ESG and endoscopic revision.
Your stay in Bangkok, step by step
- Send your details on WhatsApp. Your height, weight, health conditions, current medicines and any previous surgery. Medical records and recent blood tests help most.
- Written quotation. Your plan and price are confirmed in writing before any deposit.
- Follow-up at home. Nutrition support and remote reviews continue after you return.
Sources
- Peterli R, et al. Effect of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy vs laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass on weight loss in patients with morbid obesity: the SM-BOSS randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2018;319(3):255-265.
- Salminen P, et al. Effect of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy vs Roux-en-Y gastric bypass on weight loss, comorbidities, and reflux at 10 years in adult patients with obesity: the SLEEVEPASS randomized clinical trial. JAMA Surgery. 2022;157(8):656-666.
- Eisenberg D, et al. 2022 American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO): indications for metabolic and bariatric surgery. Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases. 2022;18(12):1345-1356.00641-4/fulltext)
- Schauer PR, et al. Bariatric surgery versus intensive medical therapy for diabetes: 5-year outcomes. New England Journal of Medicine. 2017;376(7):641-651.
Frequently asked questions
How much does gastric bypass cost in Thailand?
At YOUNIFY Clinic gastric bypass starts from THB 449,000. Your final price is confirmed in a written quotation before any deposit.
Can a gastric bypass treat reflux after a sleeve?
Often, yes. Converting a sleeve to a bypass is a common treatment for reflux that does not settle with medication. It is planned individually; see revision after sleeve gastrectomy.
What is dumping syndrome?
Faintness, sweating, cramps or diarrhoea after sugary or rich food, because it reaches the bowel quickly. Small meals, less sugar and eating protein first usually help.
Can I smoke, drink alcohol or take painkillers after a bypass?
Smoking and NSAIDs raise ulcer risk and should be avoided. Alcohol acts faster after a bypass. Your team tells you which painkillers to use.
Can international patients have gastric bypass at YOUNIFY?
Yes. Send your height, weight, health conditions and any previous surgery on WhatsApp. The clinic's bariatric surgical team reviews them with you by video before travel.
YOUNIFY Clinic · 2nd Floor, Room 214, United Center Building, 323 Silom Road, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand · Near BTS Sala Daeng (5-min walk) · Open daily 11:00–20:00
WhatsApp +66 81 556 9696 · LINE @younifyclinic · Instagram @younifyclinicthailand · info [at] younifyclinic.com
Medically reviewed by Dr. Noppachai Siranart · Last reviewed
Individual results may vary. Please consult a doctor before treatment.