Gastric Sleeve Surgery in a Nutshell
Surgery Length
1.5 Hours
- Invasiveness 80%
- Pain Factor 80%
General Anesthesia
4 – 6 weeks before resuming physical exercise
What is
Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
Gastric sleeve surgery—also known as a sleeve gastrectomy—is a procedure in which part of the stomach is removed, thereby decreasing hunger, and facilitating weight loss. It’s becoming a much-sought-after bariatric surgery option due to the many benefits it offers. If you qualify for it, gastric sleeve surgery can help you lose weight, feel better, and get your life back.
Who Qualifies for Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
What are the Benefits of Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
Gastric Sleeve Expectations and Success
How is Gastric Sleeve Surgery Performed?
Step-by-Step: Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Is Gastric Sleeve Surgery Safe?
Who Qualifies for
Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
Calculating Your BMI
Physicians use BMI as a measure of health. It’s calculated by a formula that uses a weight to height ratio (kg/m2) to result in a number. BMI numbers fall into categories as follows:
| Very Severely Underweight | 15 or lower |
| Severely Underweight | 15 – 16 |
| Underweight | 16 – 18.5 |
| Normal (healthy weight) | 18.5 – 25 |
| Overweight | 25 – 30 |
| Obese Class I (Moderately obese) | 30 – 35 |
| Obese Class II (Severely obese) | 35 – 40 |
| Obese Class III (Very severely or Super obese) | 40 or higher |
You can calculate your BMI to get an idea of whether you qualify for gastric sleeve surgery. Be sure to discuss this with your physician to ensure accurate results, and determine whether you qualify for gastric sleeve surgery.
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What are the Benefits of
Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
- dramatic weight loss
- lowered cholesterol
- decreased hunger, which may lead to eating less (lower caloric intake)
- control or remission of Type II diabetes
- lowered blood pressure
- control or resolution of sleep apnea
- lessened joint pain
- increased comfort
- higher quality of life
- higher self-esteem and more self-confidence
- shorter surgery time, which reduces the possibility of gastric sleeve surgery risks and complications
- a shorter hospital stay
- shorter recovery time
- minimally invasive, which can mean less pain
- no rerouting of intestines
- no foreign objects or material left in the body (such as a lap band)
- no adjustments needed (like with a lap band)
- faster weight loss, usually over one year to 18 months
- no
Remember that everyone’s body is different, and your results may vary from those of other patients.
Gastric Sleeve
Expectations and Success
Understanding this will help you stick to your new way of life, and encourage your body to continue to lose the extra weight. You can also get through this process by setting smaller, more achievable goals. Remember, this is not a diet—it’s a lifestyle change.
You may not be able to start exercising right away. Once our surgeon clears you for physical activity, you may see an increase in weight loss, not to mention, it may simply help you feel better, both physically and emotionally.
Be sure to discuss the procedure with our surgeon, and ask any questions you may have. It’s important to understand that:
- Gastric sleeve surgery is not cosmetic surgery. The procedure does not involve the removal of fatty tissue. In other words, it is not liposuction or a tummy tuck.
- The success of gastric sleeve surgery is dependent on long-term lifestyle changes in diet and exercise. You are making a lifetime commitment to your health and well-being.
How is Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Performed?
Once you're under the anesthesia, our surgeon will make several small incisions in your abdomen, in a U shape around your stomach. He will then place instruments called trocars in each incision. These devices allow for laparoscopic access to your abdominal cavity.
Our surgeon will create a "sleeve"—about the size and shape of a banana—in your stomach using a small, stapling device. Once the sleeve has been created, the rest of the stomach is removed, leaving a smaller stomach, and leaving the connections to your esophagus and small intestine intact.
The average human stomach can hold approximately 1 to 1.5 liters of food. After gastric sleeve surgery, the remaining part of your stomach will be able to hold approximately 50 to 150 milliliters of food.
Once the sleeve is created, our surgeon will remove the trocars, and suture your incisions. Be sure to follow our surgeon's post-operative instructions to ensure a smooth gastric sleeve surgery recovery.
Step-by-Step: Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Is Gastric Sleeve Surgery Safe?
Other factors that can affect surgical risk are age and medical history. This is why you must provide our surgeon with a complete medical history, including any allergies you may have, or medications you may be taking.
Overall, it’s a safe procedure. In fact, a clinical trial found that gastric sleeve surgery is just as safe as gastric bypass surgery, a procedure that has been around much longer, and been performed many more times.
@TorontoCosmeticClinic