The Gastric sleeve surgery, also called sleeve gastrectomy, is a bariatric surgery procedure. It removes about 80% of your stomach, leaving behind a tubular “sleeve,” about the size and shape of a banana. Reducing your stomach helps restrict calories and reduce hunger signals. This surgery is offered to help people with clinically severe obesity achieve effective weight loss.
What does a gastric sleeve do?
Reducing the size of your stomach is a simple way to restrict to limit the quantity of food you consume in a single meal, making you feel fuller faster. However, it also has an additional benefit of decreasing the production of hunger hormones in your stomach, leading to a reduction in your appetite and desires, which could prevent the temptation to regain the weight that you have previously shed.How common is gastric sleeve surgery?
The gastric sleeve is currently the most popular weight loss surgery across the world. More than half of bariatric surgeries performed in the U.S. annually are sleeve gastrectomies, and globally, approximately 380,000 procedures are done every year, with about 150,000 in the U.S. Nonetheless, just a mere 1% of people who are eligible for and could benefit from this surgery end up undergoing it. By reducing hunger and the amount of food needed to feel full, the sleeve gastrectomy is an effective way for overweight and obese patients to lose weight.What medical conditions does gastric sleeve surgery help treat?
Gastric sleeve surgery is a surgical treatment for obesity and medical conditions related to obesity. It’s only offered to qualified people who have serious medical conditions related to their obesity or are at high risk for developing them. Gastric sleeve surgery can improve and sometimes eliminate diseases, including:- Insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes.
- Hypertension and hypertensive heart disease.
- Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) and arterial disease.
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and steatohepatitis.
- Obesity hypoventilation syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea.
- Joint pain and osteoarthritis.
Is the gastric sleeve safe?
The risks of gastric sleeve surgery are far less than the risks of having obesity and its related diseases. It also has less frequency of complications than other frequently performed procedures, such as hip replacement or gallbladder removal. A majority of gastric sleeve surgeries are carried out through minimally invasive surgical methods, resulting in minimal incision-related pain and faster recovery.What qualifies you for gastric sleeve surgery?
To qualify, the general requirements are:- That you have severe obesity (class III). This is determined by your BMI (body mass index), which is calculated by your weight and height, and your related health conditions. Class III obesity means a BMI of 40 or higher, or a BMI of at least 35 with at least one related disease.
- That you have tried to but not succeeded in losing weight prior to surgery. You may be required to spend three to six months on a medically supervised weight loss plan before your insurance company will approve and cover your surgery.
- That you are physically and mentally prepared for the surgery and recovery process. Before qualifying for weight loss surgery, you’ll meet with a team of dietitians, psychologists and other medical specialists for counseling and screening.
What happens before gastric sleeve surgery?
After passing the health screening and meeting the criteria for bariatric sleeve surgery, you will need to adhere to a two-week liquid diet, as instructed by your surgeon. The objective of this diet is to reduce the amount of fat in your liver and abdomen, which can make the surgery less risky.Before the operation, you will be advised not to consume any food or beverages for a period of 12 hours. This is to ensure that your stomach is empty during the surgery, as any remaining food or liquid could potentially cause undesirable or hazardous side effects.
How is gastric sleeve surgery performed?
The majority of sleeve gastrectomy procedures are performed utilizing laparoscopic or robotic surgery. Rather than making a large incision to gain access to your organs through the abdominal cavity, your surgeon will make small incisions to execute the operation. This technique contributes to a smoother recovery process; however, depending on their circumstances, some individuals may benefit more from open surgery.What happens during gastric sleeve surgery?
- Your surgeon will give you general anesthesia, so you’ll be asleep during the procedure.
- Your surgeon will make a small cut in your abdomen (about 1/2 inch long) and insert a port. They’ll pump carbon dioxide gas through the port to expand your abdomen.
- Then they’ll place a small lighted video camera (laparoscope) through the port. The camera will project your insides onto a screen.
- Through one to three additional incisions, your surgeon will insert additional ports and complete the procedure using long, narrow tools.
- They will measure out the gastric sleeve, then divide and separate the remainder of your stomach using a surgical stapler.
- Your surgeon will remove the remainder of the stomach, then close your incisions.
How long does gastric sleeve surgery take?
Compared to other weight loss surgery procedures, a sleeve gastrectomy is a relatively brief and uncomplicated operation, typically lasting between 60 to 90 minutes. Despite this, your surgeon may advise you to remain in the hospital for one to two days following the surgery. This is to ensure that your pain and any short-term postoperative effects, such as nausea, are properly managed.What happens after gastric sleeve surgery?
After the surgery, you will need to undergo frequent check-ups with your healthcare provider in the weeks and months that follow. During these check-ups, they will keep track of your weight loss progress, any health conditions related to obesity, and any potential side effects of the surgery. Additionally, they will inquire about your adherence to the necessary lifestyle guidelines to ensure the maintenance of your health and weight loss.Will I have to follow a diet after gastric sleeve surgery?
Initially, you will need to adhere to strict dietary guidelines to promote proper healing of your stomach. Following a few months, you may be able to incorporate a more typical diet, though it's important to continue making mindful food choices. As you won't be able to consume as much as you previously could, it's crucial that the foods you do eat are nutritionally dense enough to support your energy requirements. Vitamin supplementation will commence soon after the surgery and will need to be continued indefinitely.What are the advantages of this procedure?
Compared to other bariatric surgery operations, the gastric sleeve is simpler, quicker and safer. It is often well-tolerated by individuals with medical conditions that might not be ideal for a lengthier procedure. Since this surgery doesn't involve rearranging the intestines, there's a lower likelihood of long-term nutritional complications.Although the average weight loss following this procedure is slightly less than that of more complicated weight loss surgeries, it still offers remarkable weight loss and health benefits. This procedure initially served as the first step in a two-part bariatric surgery known as the duodenal switch, but surgeons began offering it as a stand-alone procedure after many patients found that the second part wasn't necessary.
What are the possible risks or complications of gastric sleeve surgery?
All surgeries have some risk of complications. With sleeve gastrectomy, they occur in less than 1% of operations. Surgical complications include:- Bleeding
- Infection
- Reactions to anesthesia
- Leaking from the staple line
After recovering, some people develop long-term complications from the surgery. These are usually easy to treat when they occur. They can include:
- Scar tissue after the operation can cause your stomach to be narrow, which can slow or block food from moving through your stomach causing nausea, vomiting, and difficulty eating.
- Nutritional deficiencies. It’s harder to get enough nutrients when you’re eating much less. People who have bariatric surgery are usually prescribed daily nutritional supplements for life.
- Gastroesophageal reflux. Some people who had acid reflux before the operation feel that it gets worse afterward, and some people who didn’t have it before seem to get it. This can often be treated with medication.
- Gallstones. Rapid weight loss can make gallstones more likely. It causes more fat to process through your liver, which can then build up in your gallbladder as cholesterol stones and cause pain after eating. You may need another surgery to remove your gallbladder called a cholecystectomy.