The sleeve gastrectomy procedure, also known as gastric sleeve, is safer and more effective in the long term for patients than other weight-loss surgeries.
Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is a weight-loss surgery performed on morbidly obese patients with a BMI greater than 30 for permanent weight loss. The goal of a sleeve gastrectomy is to reduce the patient’s stomach to about the size of a banana. This limits the patient’s food intake and allows for more successful calorie restriction.
Gastric sleeve surgery is typically done after other weight-loss measures were unsuccessful. The patient’s stomach resembles a sleeve or a tube, permitting less food intake than normal. Gastric sleeve surgery may be necessary to prevent serious health complications from obesity.
If morbidly obese patients gain more weight, they are at a higher risk for complex diseases and death. With a sleeve gastrectomy, patients are more likely to lose weight and lower their risk for further health issues. Another benefit of gastric sleeve surgery is that it causes the body’s hormones to support weight loss more effectively.
Gastric sleeve surgery is performed with the help of an advanced surgical camera called a laparoscope. Laparoscopic surgical techniques allow our surgeons to perform their work through tiny incisions in the abdomen that are minimally invasive and heal rapidly.
The surgeon uses fine tools to maneuver around the area and remove parts of the stomach. Patients are under anesthesia for the sleeve gastrectomy procedure, and by the end of the process, the patient’s stomach shrinks by 15%. This approach is known to have fewer complications than more invasive surgical techniques.
After gastric sleeve surgery, the patient’s diet is highly restricted to allow their stomach to heal. Patients can only consume light liquids during the first week after surgery. They then progress to food puree for about three weeks. Regular food consumption can resume at around four weeks post-op.
With a smaller stomach and limited food choices, patients have the opportunity to rapidly lose weight with gastric sleeve surgery. Most patients see weight loss in the following few months.
At West Medical, this powerful surgery will be followed-up by the compassionate and attentive support of our staff, many of whom have been through this process themselves. They’ll be by your side as you heal, and embark on a healthier, happier new life.
Sleeve gastrectomy surgery offers numerous benefits for patients who have struggled with weight loss. The procedure is a good alternative to other weight-loss surgeries with greater risks. Your doctor will help you to determine whether sleeve gastrectomy surgery is the best option for your individual needs.
Some of the benefits of a sleeve gastrectomy include:
Reduced risk of nutrient deficiencies
Small incisions
Quick recovery
Maintains stomach function
Facilitates loss of up to 50% of extra body weight
Prevents overeating
Faster and easier recovery than other methods
Reduces appetite
These benefits can be life-changing for overweight or obese patients. Sleeve gastrectomy surgery makes it easier for patients to eat an appropriate amount of calories because it reduces stomach capacity. This means patients can achieve long-term weight loss without navigating the nuances of dieting alone.
Compared to other procedures like Lap-Band surgery, sleeve gastrectomy often offers patients a better quality of life.
Many Lap-Band patients find eating difficult or even painful after their surgery. Because Lap-Bands restrict the size of the stomach to a small portion of the upper digestive tract, certain foods like meat, fibrous vegetables, and even bread can be painful to eat. These side effects are not present with sleeve gastrectomy.
Sleeve gastrectomy also avoids other complications present in Lap-Band surgery. Some Lap-Band patients suffer malabsorption, an inability to obtain certain nutrients from the foods they eat. This condition can lead to deficiencies in essential vitamins.
While gastric bypass and Lap-Band surgeries will make you feel full after smaller meals, sleeve gastrectomy is also the only surgery that actually decreases hunger. This is a profound difference that makes it much easier for patients to stick to a healthy diet.
Other procedures are also far more risky, because they involve more invasive surgery. Gastric bypass in particular involves removing part of the stomach, an extremely invasive process that can lead to significant complications. Sleeve gastrectomy patients suffer complications in less than 1% of cases.
In contrast to more invasive procedures, the recovery time after a sleeve gastrectomy is very short. Most patients go home the same day or the next morning, and most are back at work within a week.
At West Medical, we work with you before and after your sleeve gastrectomy surgery to ensure you get the personalized health care you need. Our post-surgery support program—led by staff members who have had sleeve gastrectomy themselves—means you won’t go through this process alone.
Here, you are not just a number or a body; your unique goals matter to us and we want to help you achieve lasting health and happiness. For many patients, sleeve gastrectomy at West Medical is the best choice.
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4640 Lincoln Blvd.
Suite 718B
Marina del Rey, CA 90292
