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Gastric sleeve surgery is a "restrictive only" procedure in the same fashion as adjustable gastric banding. Using a skinny tube, about 1 cm in diameter, a series of surgical staples are applied against the stomach to create a new longer and skinnier stomach that holds only 2 ounces at any given time. The residual larger portion of the stomach is removed because it can no longer drain its secretions. With the residual stomach removed from the body, the new stomach tube fills and empties with the normal anatomic connections and no "bypass" is needed.
Weight loss is achieved by "restriction" that occurs when eating and moving food through the long, narrow tube of the new stomach. This new stomach doesn't stretch, so patients feel full with only a few bites. Also, because the new stomatch is long and skinny, it takes longer for food to move through the stomach into the small intestines so patients feel fuller, longer.
The typical patient loses 15-30 pounds the first month after surgery, followed by 8-12 pounds a month until they reach their goal. Ultimate weight loss is very similar to the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass with the average patient losing 70% of their excess weight by 12 to 18 months.
Risks of Surgery
All surgery comes with risks and while extremely safe, sleeve gastrectomy comes with its own unique set:
- Bleeding from the stomach staple line
- Leaking or disruption of the staple line
- Unrecognized injury to the other abdominal contents during surgery
- Bleeding from surgery requiring transfusion or re-operation
- Stricture or narrowing of the new stomach tube
- Failure to lose all the excess weight required
Advantages of Gastric Sleeve Surgery
- Faster & greater weight loss than gastric banding
- No foreign body or band adjustment required
- No re-routing of intestinal anatomy required
Con's of Gastric Sleeve Surgery
- No long term data (> 5 years) on weight loss and complications
- May make reflux symptoms worse initially
- Is not reversable because the residual stomach is removed
- May not be paid for by your insurance
See seminar locations and dates. Our doctors are some of the best in the nation, with over 15,000 surgeries performed. They can answer all of your questions about gastric bypass and gastric banding surgery at one of our doctor led seminars.
