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Gastric Sleeve (Sleeve Gastrectomy) |
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The vertical sleeve gastrectomy, also known as the sleeve gastrectomy or gastric sleeve procedure, is an obesity surgery in which a portion of the stomach is removed. This results in a new, smaller stomach that is roughly the size and shape of a banana.
| The sleeve gastrectomy works primarily by reducing the size of the stomach so the patient feels full after eating much less, takes in fewer calories, and loses weight. In addition, the surgery removes the portion of the stomach that produces a hormone that can make you feel hungry, so you don't want to eat as much.
This procedure can be an excellent alternative to gastric bypass or gastric banding. Sleeve gastrectomy is a simpler operation than the gastric bypass procedure, because it doesn’t involve rerouting or reconnecting the intestines.
Also, unlike the gastric banding procedure, the sleeve gastrectomy doesn’t require the use of a banding device to be implanted around a portion of the stomach. |
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At the Center for Treatment of Obesity, our team will help you determine whether sleeve gastrectomy is appropriate for you and exactly how it will be performed. In some cases, the sleeve gastrectomy is performed as a single weight loss procedure, for example, in patients who prefer not to have a gastric band implanted or those with complications such as anemia that prevent other surgical options.
In other instances, the sleeve gastrectomy is performed as part of a two-step process in extremely obese patients (generally, those with a BMI over 60). The sleeve gastrectomy is performed first in order to result in enough weight loss that gastric band surgery can then be performed at a much lower health risk to the patient than before the weight loss.
Advantages of sleeve gastrectomy:
- Fewer food intolerences than with the gastric band.
- Weight loss generally is faster with the sleeve than with the gastric band.
- There is no implantable band device, so slippage and erosion are not a risk.
- The surgical risk is lower than with the gastric bypass procedure, but the weight loss is similar. In addition, our team can perform the sleeve gastrectomy using minimally invasive techniques that help speed recovery time.
- No device that needs adjustment is inserted, so the follow-up regimen is not as intense as it would be with the band.
Disadvantages of sleeve gastrectomy:
- Since the sleeve gastrectomy is a newer procedure, it hasn’t been tested as long as gastric banding or gastric bypass.
- Sleeve gastrectomy is non-adjustable and non-reversible, unlike gastric banding.
- Complication risks are slightly higher than with the band.
Risks/Complications:
- Standard risks associated with surgery
- Leakage at the suture/staple site
- Blood clots
Recovery Timeline:
- Hospital stay averages 48 hours
- Most patients return to normal activity in two weeks
- Full surgical recovery usually occurs in three weeks
Want to learn more? Join us for a free seminar on your weight loss options.
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