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Surgery Length | Average Cost |
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1.5 Hours |
$17,000 Plus HST
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Synopsis of Surgery: |
Gastric Sleeve is a laparoscopic surgical procedure in which most of the stomach is permanently removed, and the remaining portion resembles a sleeve. This restricts food intake and hunger to induce weight loss.
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Alternative Names: |
Sleeve Gastrectomy
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Anesthesia: | General Anesthesia |
Recovery: |
1 – 2 weeks off from work
4 – 6 weeks before resuming physical exercise |
Invasiveness | 80% |
Pain Factor | 80% |
|
|
Surgery Length |
---|
1.5 Hours |
|
Average Cost |
$17,000 Plus HST |
Synopsis of Surgery: |
---|
Gastric Sleeve is a laparoscopic surgical procedure in which most of the stomach is permanently removed, and the remaining portion resembles a sleeve. This restricts food intake and hunger to induce weight loss. |
Alternative Names: |
Sleeve Gastrectomy |
Anesthesia: |
General Anesthesia |
Recovery: |
1 – 2 weeks off from work 4 – 6 weeks before resuming physical exercise |
Invasiveness |
80% |
Pain Factor |
80% |
What is Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
Have you tried every diet, exercise, pill and potion out there, but you still can't lose weight? Are you embarrassed by your weight, and have difficulty finding clothing that fits you? Is your weight having a detrimental effect on your overall health? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you don't have to live the rest of your life that way. You have an effective option available to you.
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?
The two primary factors that qualify someone for gastric sleeve surgery are a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher, and/or being 100 pounds or more overweight.
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.
What are the Benefits of Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
You may see several benefits from gastric sleeve surgery including, but not limited to:
- 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


Benefits of gastric sleeve surgery over other types of surgery (such as lap banding) include, but are not limited to:
- 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
Because gastric sleeve surgery is a dramatic procedure that changes the anatomy of your stomach, you will begin to lose weight very quickly following surgery. However, that pace will slow down after a few months, and it's easy to become discouraged and fall back into bad habits.
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?
While this procedure is minimally invasive, it does still require general anesthesia for your safety and comfort.
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
Small incisions are made to accommodate the laparoscopic tools (trocars) that will be used for the procedure.
A camera is inserted through one of the incisions to assist the surgeon on viewing the stomach.
A large portion of the stomach is removed.
The remaining stomach resembles a "sleeve" or tube like structure.
Is Gastric Sleeve Surgery Safe?
It's important to remember that every surgery comes with risks. Some of those risks are increased by obesity, which is why the shortened surgery time for a gastric sleeve is seen as a benefit. The shorter the time in surgery, the lower the probability of complications.
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.
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