What is a Gastric Sleeve?
What is a Gastric Sleeve?
Gastric sleeve surgery is a highly effective weight-loss procedure that can help individuals achieve significant and sustained weight loss. Understanding what to expect in terms of weight loss outcomes, as well as best-case and worst-case scenarios, can help set realistic expectations and goals.
How It Works
Gastric sleeve surgery works by reducing the size of the stomach, which helps patients feel full faster and consume fewer calories. During the procedure, the surgeon removes approximately 75-80% of the stomach, leaving behind a narrow tube or sleeve-shaped pouch that holds much less food than the original stomach.
By decreasing the stomach's size, gastric sleeve surgery limits the amount of food that can be eaten at one time, leading to reduced calorie intake. Additionally, the surgery removes the part of the stomach that produces the hunger hormone ghrelin, which can help decrease appetite and promote weight loss.
Unlike some other weight-loss surgeries, such as gastric bypass, gastric sleeve surgery does not involve rerouting the intestines or implanting a device. Instead, it focuses solely on reducing the size of the stomach, making it a simpler and less invasive procedure with a faster recovery time.
Benefits
One of the main benefits of gastric sleeve surgery is significant weight loss. Patients typically lose a substantial amount of weight within the first year after surgery, leading to improvements in obesity-related health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea.
Considerations
While gastric sleeve surgery can be life-changing for many people, it's essential to understand that it's not a quick fix or a one-size-fitsall solution. It requires commitment to lifestyle changes, including dietary modifications and regular exercise, to achieve long-term success.
Is It Right for You?
Gastric sleeve surgery may be an option for individuals who are severely obese and have struggled to lose weight through diet and exercise alone. However, it's not suitable for everyone, and candidates must undergo a thorough evaluation by a medical professional to determine if they are eligible for the procedure.
Conclusion
Gastric sleeve surgery is a valuable tool in the fight against obesity, offering significant weight loss and improvements in health for many individuals. If you're considering this procedure, be sure to consult with a qualified healthcare provider to discuss your options and determine if it's the right choice for you.
References
1- American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). "ASMBS position statement on sleeve gastrectomy as a bariatric procedure." Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases, 2010, 6(1), 1-7.
2- Angrisani, L., Santonicola, A., Iovino, P., Formisano, G., Buchwald, H., & Scopinaro, N. "Bariatric surgery worldwide 2013." Obesity Surgery, 2015, 25(10), 1822-1832.
3- Peterli, R., Wölnerhanssen, B. K., Peters, T., Vetter, D., Kröll, D., Borbély, Y., ... & Schultes, B. "Improvement in glucose metabolism after bariatric surgery: comparison of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a prospective randomized trial." Annals of Surgery, 2009, 250(2), 234-241.
4- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). "Obesity: identification, assessment and management." Clinical guideline [CG189], 2014.
5- Rubino, F., Nathan, D. M., Eckel, R. H., Schauer, P. R., Alberti, K. G., Zimmet, P. Z., ... & Del Prato, S. "Metabolic surgery in the treatment algorithm for type 2 diabetes: a joint statement by international diabetes organizations." Diabetes Care, 2016, 39(6), 861-877.