Gastric sleeve surgery , or sleeve gastrectomy, is a weight loss procedure that removes most of the stomach – reducing the size of the stomach and simultaneously reducing the production of the hunger hormone ghrelin. Ghrelin also plays a role in blood sugar metabolism, so people with type II diabetes often see an immediate decrease in their need for diabetes medications (especially oral medications) after the sleeve gastrectomy. Hormonal changes after the procedure help patients to feel sated, eat less, as well as improve or resolve diabetes.
With this operation, the surgeon removes part of the stomach and makes a tube or “sleeve” out of the rest of the stomach. The new, banana-shaped stomach is much smaller than the original stomach.
Gastric sleeve surgery is performed under general anaesthetic and will probably involve a hospital stay of 3 to 5 days.
As a guideline, both open and laparoscopic gastric sleeve surgery patients have about a 2-3 week recovery period, (although some can take as long as 6 weeks) before they can return to work. Open surgery patients generally take longer.
As a result, patients lose up to 70% of their excess body weight within 18 months to 2 years, better results are obtained with good adherence to dietary and behavioral guidelines. However, up to 3 out of 10 gastric sleeve patients gain weight after reaching their low weight. The amount varies widely by patient, ranging from only a small amount of weight to all of it; With smart food choices, regular exercise and good eating habits, patients who have had a sleeve gastrectomy will enjoy and maintain good weight loss.