Gastric sleeve surgery, also known as sleeve gastrectomy, can be life-changing for people who have not been able to lose weight with other methods or have obesity-related health conditions. Not only does gastric sleeve surgery help an individual lose weight, it can also help improve energy and mobility and can improve or resolve conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea.
At Wellstar, board-certified
bariatric surgeons
perform gastric sleeve surgery laparoscopically and robotically—minimally invasive approaches—which involve making several small incisions in the abdomen. About 80% of the stomach is removed, leaving a tube-shaped stomach around the size and shape of a banana, also referred to as a sleeve. This smaller stomach limits the amount of food you can eat and helps you feel full sooner. People who undergo gastrectomy also have lower release of the hunger hormone ghrelin, which helps reduce appetite.
Preparing for Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Candidates for gastric sleeve surgery include people with a:
- BMI of 40 or higher
- BMI of 35-39 with an obesity-related condition like diabetes or high blood pressure
- BMI of 30-34 with serious weight-related health conditions
- Commitment to making long-term life changes
Your surgeon will get you ready for gastric sleeve surgery, which will include several preoperative steps, including dietary changes, medical clearance and physical preparations such as exercising, abstaining from smoking and pausing medications or supplements as instructed by your doctor. Following these measures can help you go into your procedure better prepared both physically and mentally, which can improve your outcome.
During Gastric Sleeve Surgery
You will be given anesthesia to put you to sleep for the surgery. Your surgeon will make several small incisions in your upper abdomen. A laparoscope and thin surgical instruments will be inserted through the incisions. Viewing the abdominal cavity on a screen in real-time, the surgeon will remove the left side of your stomach, leaving a much smaller “sleeve-shaped” stomach.
The procedure takes about an hour but can vary depending on a patient’s medical history and other personal factors. Experienced surgeons at Wellstar utilize advanced minimally invasive techniques, which help decrease the time it takes to do the surgery as well as recovery time, allowing patients to return home sooner.
Recovery from Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Most people stay in the hospital for one night after surgery. A nurse or therapist will help you get up and walk soon after your surgery to keep your blood moving and improve healing. You will not be able to eat immediately after surgery, but will soon be able to have liquids followed by pureed and soft foods. The post-operative diet should include high-protein, low-carbohydrate meals. You will find that you become full after a small meal. You will need to take extra vitamins and supplements to stay healthy.
Typically, patients return to work and normal activities, including strenuous activity, after about a month. Full recovery usually takes around four to six weeks.
Support for Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Wellstar Bariatrics and Wellstar Center for Best Health support patients before and after surgery to help you make the changes and build habits you need to maintain your results. Our approach includes monitoring and guidance from a physician, dietitian, exercise physiologist and psychologist. In addition to having access to a team of weight loss experts, you can also consider joining a support group.
Long-term Gastric Sleeve Results
On average, people who undergo gastric sleeve surgery can expect to lose about 50% to 70% of their excess body weight within the first year. Over a period of three years, many patients maintain this weight loss, achieving losing up to 60% or more of their excess body weight. However, it’s possible to regain weight if you do not adhere to dietary and exercise lifestyle changes.
