Gastric sleeve surgery from West Medical is a weight loss treatment in which a large portion of the stomach is removed and the remainder is reconfigured into a sleeve-like figure. Patients who undergo this procedure report feeling full far faster than before surgery, which is not a surprise because their stomach is physically about 2/10 of its former size. There is, however, another benefit that has given gastric sleeve surgery its reputation as one of the most successful weight loss surgery options available.
It is believed that a sleeve gastrectomy typically removes a portion of the stomach, the fundus, which is responsible for producing hunger hormones. These hormones are thought to be produced at an increased rate in overweight people and, if the body senses that it has lost a lot of weight or even if its caloric intake is less than usual, even more are produced. This may explain why some individuals are able to lose large amounts of weight only to regain it sometime later and even relatively thin people find dieting a challenge. By removing the production center for these hormones, patients are far less likely to face the incessant feelings of hunger that sabotage their weight loss progress.
Who Qualifies for Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Bariatric surgeries are typically recommended for obese patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or in obese patients with a BMI of 35 or higher and a comorbidity such as diabetes or heart problems. When you come in for your initial consultation, we will discuss all of your options and begin to decide which is right for you. Should you not qualify for gastric sleeve surgery because your BMI is too low or for other reasons, there are other effective treatment options.
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