The put it simply, yes but also very routine. I don't like Jake's answer though. I have worked in Cardiology for 15 years now and know that triple bypass is the most common surgeons do. If people have 1 to 2 vessel disease, this can be treated with Stents with a procedure called an Angioplasty ( I help perform these daily). With an Angioplasty patients can go home the next day. Risks increase with an Angioplasty if you have too many blockages at once, or if the disease section of the artery is too long. With a Triple Bypass operation (we do at least 3 per day, at the hospital I work at) you are in hospital for 7 days. Two days will be in ICU and 24 hours will be on a ventilator- sometimes less. It takes about 6 weeks to recover fully from a Bypass. Some patient say they feel 10 years younger after a Bypass. Risk from a Bypass increase with age and if you still smoke, stop now. Also remember there is often more risk of dying if you don't have the operation. Good luck and I hope this information helps you.