Sleeve gastrectomy is a surgical weight-loss procedure in which the stomach is remodeled into a long tube about one-quarter its original size. This procedure is typically performed laparoscopically, which involves inserting small instruments through multiple small incisions in the upper abdomen. During sleeve gastrectomy, almost 80% of the stomach is removed, leaving a tube-shaped stomach about the size and shape of a banana. Due to its restricted size fewer calories are absorbed through the stomach. The procedure irreversibly reduces the size of the stomach.
Limiting the size of the stomach restricts the amount of food one is able to consume. Additionally, sleeve gastrectomy also prompts hormonal changes which assist with weight loss. These hormonal changes also help relieve conditions associated with being overweight, such as heart disease or high blood pressure.
Ideal candidates for gastric sleeve surgery must have a body mass index (BMI) greater than 40, or at least 30-35 with one or multiple obesity-related co-morbid health problems. The procedure can also be appropriate for patients whose BMI is too high for other bariatric procedures.
Gastric sleeve surgery typically takes around one hour to complete and is performed under general anesthesia. You may need to stay in the hospital for two to three days following the procedure.
The results from gastric sleeve vary from patient to patient but most can expect to lose 1 to 1 ½ kilograms per week until the normal weight range is reached. The success of your gastric sleeve surgery depends on whether you adhere to your surgeon’s dietary and lifestyle recommendations. Your surgeon can discuss with you the results you should expect to see during your consultation.
Not really. Some patients have discomfort around the keyhole incisions for a few days. Occasionally patients experience shoulder tip discomfort which is related to diaphragm irritation. About 5% of people experience nausea after the general anaesthetic.
The gastric sleeve surgery is a relatively new procedure and it is gaining rapid popularity worldwide. In the late 1980s and 1990s, surgeons started to do the sleeve gastrectomy as part of the duodenal switch operation. Over the years, surgeons noticed that gastric sleeve caused significant weight loss. In the late 2000s and early 2010s, this procedure became increasingly popular. Large datasets, with more than 5 years of follow-up after the surgery, showed sustained weight loss.
With dramatic weight loss, there is often the unintended consequence of excess sagging skin. Post-bariatric surgery is a procedure that deals with excess skin and aims to tighten the body contours to a more natural and youthful shape.
Post-bariatric surgery can remove or tighten loose skin around the arms, neck, abdomen, and thighs. The procedure is a combination of various procedures, such as the thigh lift, neck lift, arm lift, and tummy tuck, which are all designed to remove excess skin. In many cases, multiple sessions may be necessary, depending on the amount of excess skin to be removed. You can find more information on our Postbariatric Surgery page.
