I know of one person who had bypass surgery and kept the weight off for at least 4 years (I lost track of him after that). And I know another man who lost a significant amount, and afte rfive years he ahd reagined about a third of what he had lost. It is not a “good alternative”; any medical intervention is less desirable than reduction via changing diet behavior and exercise. And, there are a host of other challenges that go with it. Counseling is highly recommended both before and after the procedure. And, there are a host of problems, from constipation to diarrhea to diffculty swallowing and alcohol use disorder, plus difficulties from the surgery itself.