Gastric Sleeve Surgery

What is gastric sleeve surgery?

For many people gastric sleeve surgery in San Antonio, Texas is appealing because it is not quite as drastic as a gastric bypass and yet it does not involve an implant like the lap band procedure. With gastric sleeve surgery, there is NO dumping syndrome because there is no re-routing of the intestines.

The vertical sleeve gastrectomy – also called a “sleeve” or “gastric sleeve” – is a hybrid operation in which eighty percent of the stomach is completely resected and removed from the body. The resection is done along the long axis of the stomach so that the new stomach looks like a hockey stick. The new stomach is very stiff, tubular, and narrow, therefore it does not let you eat very much food. The portion of the stomach that is removed is the most elastic.

With gastric sleeve surgery, the weight loss results are very similar to bypass surgery for the first year or so. The procedure is usually covered by insurance.

How does gastric sleeve surgery work?

Gastric sleeve is a metabolic surgery. By removing part of the stomach, we dramatically alter the neuro-hormonal pathways that control the sensation of hunger and the way our body manages the calories that we put in.

There is a hormone called ghrelin that is made primarily in the part of the stomach that we remove. It is the primary driver in the hunger pathway, and with the dramatic drops in ghrelin levels seen after the gastric sleeve surgery, we see a commensurate decrease in hunger! We also see up-regulation of a hormone called GLP1, which is involved with our body’s control of glucose. In fact, many of the newer diabetes treatment medications are designed to up-regulate GLP1. The sleeve surgery does this without medication and in this way, it can cause remission of diabetes and metabolic disease quite rapidly.

What are the benefits and risks of gastric sleeve surgery?

Gastric sleeve weight-loss surgery offers the following benefits:

• May reduce hunger since less of the hunger-inducing hormone ghrelin is produced by your stomach following the procedure
• Simpler, shorter operation than a gastric bypass (unlike a gastric bypass, gastric sleeve weight-loss surgery doesn’t reroute the intestines)
• No adjustments are needed, unlike with lap bands
• No foreign objects are left in your body
• Significant weight loss is the norm
• Weight loss is usually maintained
• No “dumping syndrome” with unpleasant side effects that can be associated with gastric bypass surgery

Gastric sleeve weight-loss surgery has the following risks:

• Surgical Risks: Infection, bleeding, blood clots, anesthesia reactions, and organ injury.
• Nutritional Deficiencies: Possible deficiencies in vitamins B12, iron, calcium, and vitamin D.
• Gastric Sleeve Complications: Leaks, strictures, stomach ulcers, acid reflux, and gallstones.
• Permanent Modification: The procedure is irreversible, and the stomach cannot be restored to its original size.
• Lifestyle Adjustments: Significant lifestyle changes, including dietary modifications and regular exercise, are necessary for long-term success.

How is the gastric sleeve surgery performed?

Gastric sleeve surgery can be completed in around one hour and is minimally invasive. That’s because BMI of Texas takes a laparoscopic approach to the procedure. After you have gone to sleep thanks to general anesthesia, your BMI surgeon makes several small incisions in your abdomen. Through these incisions, your doctor inserts narrow tubes that house cameras and various tiny surgical tools.

With this approach, your surgeon can clearly see what’s happening inside without having to open you up as with normal open surgery. Your doctor can make the surgical adjustments to the stomach safely and remove pieces of the stomach, totaling about three-fourths of its original mass through small surgical incisions. This method reduces scarring, surgical risks, and recovery time.

Once the procedure is done, the incisions will need a few stitches. Then you’re ready to go into recovery. 

What is the recovery process for gastric sleeve surgery?

What is gastric sleeve recovery like? Click here to see our Complete Guide: What to Expect After Gastric Sleeve Surgery.

How is a gastric sleeve different from a gastric bypass?

In a gastric bypass, a surgeon makes a small pouch that bypasses the lower part of your stomach, sending food from the top of the stomach straight into the small intestines. The gastric sleeve is similar, but the shape and size of the stomach after the procedure is more like that of a banana or hockey stick. This makes the functional stomach more like a tube than a bag.

Gastric bypass can be dangerous for people who have over 100 pounds (45.36 kg.) to lose. In these cases, the gastric sleeve is much preferred.

How much weight loss can be expected and how do I prepare for gastric sleeve surgery?

Interested in learning how much weight loss can be expected after gastric sleeve or how to prepare for gastric sleeve surgery? View our complete guide to gastric sleeve surgery here.

Your Gastric Sleeve Procedure at BMI of Texas

Gastric sleeve surgery in San Antonio can have a massive positive impact on your quality of life. To learn more about sleeve gastrectomy, contact us today, watch a free seminar or chat with a BMI expert. We’ll help give you the tools you need to succeed in losing a significant amount of weight and keeping it off in the long term, improving your health in the process!