How Does Gastric Sleeve Help You Lose Weight?
Reduces Stomach Size
Gastric sleeve surgery is a two-fold procedure as it not only changes how much food a person is able to hold, but how much food a person wants, both of which help to induce weight loss.
Since your stomach is now smaller in size than it was before, you now feel satisfied (full) with smaller amounts of food.
Minimum Effect on Digestion
The gastric sleeve surgery is permanent, but it does not affect anything critical as to how the stomach naturally functions. The surgery has minimum effects on the digestive process, which reduces the risk of malabsorption complications, which can be seen in other types of bariatric procedures such as gastric bypass.
Wait Longer Between Meals
Ghrelin, which is known as the hunger hormone, is mainly produced in the stomach, especially in the portion of the stomach that gets removed during the sleeve gastrectomy.
Normally in between meals when the stomach is empty, ghrelin is produced and signals are sent to the brain to give us the urge to eat. By removing a large concentration of ghrelin, which is what happens after gastric sleeve surgery, you can wait longer in between meals before feeling the need to eat again, and you also feel satisfied with less amounts of food.
Surgery
Length
1.5 Hours
Recovery
How is Gastric Sleeve Surgery Performed?
The Gastric Sleeve Surgery takes about 1.5 hours and is completed under General Anesthesia, meaning you will be put to sleep. Surgery is performed in one of our two operating rooms at 360 Sleeve. The surgeons will mark the incision sites pre-operatively forming a ‘U’ shape around your abdomen. These incision sites are very minuscule, leaving the scars to be almost invisible.
The surgeons enter the stomach laparoscopically using trocars. A camera is inserted through one of the trocars, this allows them to have a visual of the stomach through a video monitor and to precisely guide other instruments.
Other instruments are then inserted through the other trocars for the removal and stapling of the stomach.
The remaining stomach is sealed using staples, and the incisions on the abdomen are sutured up. Before surgery, the average stomach is able to hold 4-6 cups, after surgery, it will be able to hold ½ – 1 ½ cups.
Health Benefits of Gastric Sleeve Surgery
With a gastric sleeve surgery, you can lose 60-70% of your excess weight. This calculation is also referred to as expected weight loss, and it is an estimate of how much excess weight you will lose after surgery.
- Dramatic Weight Loss
- Reduced Cholesterol
- Reduced Blood Pressure
- Control Remission for Type II Diabetes
- Controls Sleep Apnea & Improves Sleep Quality
- Decreases Joint/Muscle pain
- Overall Better Quality of life
- Increased Mobility
- Improved Confidence
Watch Our Gastric Sleeve Surgery Videos
Is Gastric Sleeve Right for You?
BMI (Body Mass Index) is one of the most determining factors that can help with your candidacy for gastric sleeve surgery. Candidates need to have a BMI of 30 or higher. You can calculate your BMI using the calculator below.
The best way to find out if you are a candidate for gastric sleeve surgery is to book your first consultation. We will provide you with the resources and professional advice to guide you in the right direction.
BMI
Weight Loss After Gastric Sleeve
It is hard to predict a timeline of how much and how fast you will lose weight after a gastric sleeve. There are many factors such as your age, your gender, your BMI, how much you exercise, how much weight you lost on your pre-op diet, and how many calories you consume a day- all of these aid in your weight loss progression.
Since a large portion of your stomach is removed, you will see dramatic weight loss right after surgery. This however will plateau in a few months, and you will need to take an active step in changing your lifestyle habits to ensure that you remain healthy and happy.
Get Sleeved Now & Pay Later
Apply for Financing and start your journey! The application process will only take a few minutes and you will receive a response within 1 business day.
Risks & Complications Associated with Gastric Sleeve
Any surgery that is performed will carry risks, just from the anesthesia alone. Patients who are obese and have obesity-related illnesses are at a higher risk for complications to arise during surgery.
However, at 360 Sleeve Clinic we take the necessary precautions to reduce the chances of complications from occurring. To assist the surgeons in this, you must always be truthful when completing your health questionnaire. Safety is our number one priority.
Some complications that can arise up to 10 days after surgery include, but are not limited to:
Staple Line Leaks
This is a leak in the staple line (where the stomach was removed from). Studies have shown it can occur about 1-3% of the time. If it does occur, your surgeon may have to repair the leak laparoscopically.
Deep Vein Thrombosis
DVT can occur after almost any type of surgery. They have an occurrence rate of less than 1%, however, they can be fatal. This is why it is important to follow your surgeons’ instructions and to get up out of bed and move every so often. Surgical removal of the clot, or medication to dissolve the clot, may be your surgeon’s choice of action.
Infection
Infections at the incision site can occur with any surgery. The incident rate with bariatric surgery is 10-15%. Antibiotics are usually given as treatment, however, the severity can depend on the type of bacteria found in the wound.
Long Term Complications, that can occur after 30 days include gallstone formation, GERD (heartburn), stenosis, and stomach obstruction.
Emotional Changes
Throughout the course of the next year to year and a half, you will not only go through many physical changes, but you will experience emotional and psychological changes as well. It will be hard at first to adapt to a new lifestyle. You may experience some isolation from having to stick to a very strict diet, especially when you are attending social events. You may also feel a disconnect from your body, as it takes time to adjust to your new size, but eventually, you will grow to be happy with the healthier version of yourself.
You may also feel the need to fill a lost addiction (that being with food) to another type such as drugs or alcohol. Being aware of this can help you prepare and attack any future addiction problems.
As mentioned earlier, most patients do reach a weight-loss plateau and it can be very discouraging to stick to the diet and exercise regime when you aren’t seeing results. There are many tips that your nutritionist can provide you in overcoming this.
If you do feel that you may be developing a form of depression, we do advise you to seek help. Do not feel embarrassed of feeling sad or disappointed, these are all normal and predicted emotions that can come with gastric sleeve recovery. Having supporting and loving friends and family can help you get through the ups and downs you may experience, and help keep you on track.
