Reclaim Your Life With Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Obesity can have a profound impact on your life, draining your energy and making everyday tasks more difficult. Carrying extra weight can also increase your risk for several health conditions, including heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis and even certain types of cancer.
We know that losing weight isn’t always easy. We offer a variety of weight-loss solutions, including bariatric surgery, to help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
Bariatric gastric sleeve surgery — also called gastric sleeve surgery or vertical sleeve gastrectomy — is the most common type of bariatric surgery performed in the U.S. and has successfully helped thousands of people like you reclaim their lives and become the healthiest versions of themselves.
Understanding How Gastric Sleeve Surgery Works
Vertical sleeve gastrectomy is a type of bariatric surgery used for weight loss. During the surgery, about 80% of the stomach is removed, leaving only a smaller tube or "sleeve." Having a reduced stomach capacity means you can only eat small amounts of food at one time. However, this can also help you feel fuller more quickly and stay full longer.
Gastric sleeve bariatric surgery creates hormonal changes by decreasing the amount of ghrelin, known as the "hunger hormone,” in the stomach and increasing your body's levels of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and peptide YY (PYY), resulting in a reduced appetite and increased feeling of fullness.
Most patients lose between 60% to 70% of their starting body weight within the first year of surgery when combined with a lifelong commitment to healthier habits, like eating a nutritious diet and increasing physical activity.
Benefits of a Minimally Invasive Procedure
Most bariatric surgeries are performed laparoscopically under general anesthesia by either a surgeon or a robotic system guided by a surgeon. This means the operation requires only a few small incisions in your stomach area rather than larger ones.
A minimally invasive surgery like this offers several benefits, including:
- Easier recovery
- Less scarring
- Lower chances of infection and other complications
- Reduced pain
- Shorter hospital stay
Generally, gastric sleeve surgery takes one to two hours to complete, and it’s one of the least invasive types of bariatric surgery.
Helping You Reclaim Your Life
Learn more about whether you might be a good candidate for gastric sleeve surgery, as well as some of the benefits of this type of weight-loss procedure.
- Benefits of Gastric Sleeve Surgery
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With us, you can live a happier, healthier life. Our expert surgeons are committed to providing exceptional care so you can reap the benefits, which include:
- A better quality of life
- Improvements or remission of obesity-related conditions such as Type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure
- Increased feelings of fullness for better appetite control
- Less pain, scarring and recovery time when compared to more invasive types of bariatric surgery
- More energy
- Reduced hunger
- Significant weight loss
Bariatric surgery has the potential to also benefit your mental health by leading to:
- A better overall mood
- Improved body image and self-esteem
- Lessened depression and anxiety
Bariatric sleeve surgery may also help lower your risk for obesity-related conditions, including:
- Certain cancers, including breast, colorectal, liver and lung cancer
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Kidney disease
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Osteoarthritis
- Stroke
- Type 2 diabetes
- Eligibility for Bariatric Gastric Sleeve Surgery
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Not everyone is eligible for bariatric surgery. You may qualify for bariatric sleeve surgery if you:
- Have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher
- Have a BMI of 35 or more, plus a serious obesity-related health issue such as high blood pressure or Type 2 diabetes
Other criteria for bariatric surgery eligibility include:
- Ages 18 to 65
- Committed to making healthy lifestyle choices for life
- History of failed weight-loss attempts through diet and exercise alone
- Mentally ready to make lifelong changes for sustaining weight loss
- Understanding surgery is not a "quick fix"
Additionally, some health insurance plans have criteria that you must meet before having any bariatric surgery. It’s best to contact your insurance company directly to discuss any requirements.
- Before, During and After Gastric Sleeve Surgery
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Gastric sleeve surgery generally takes one to two hours and is normally performed laparoscopically by a surgeon or robotic system guided by a surgeon.
Leading up to surgery, your AdventHealth bariatric surgeon will schedule a consultation with a nutritionist and psychologist and order certain medical tests and blood work.
Your doctor may also give you special instructions for the weeks before surgery, such as exercising more, quitting smoking and restricting your diet to liquids only.
You’ll also be instructed not to eat or drink anything for at least 12 hours before your scheduled surgery.
The usual surgical procedure for vertical sleeve gastrectomy is as follows:
- An anesthesiologist will administer general anesthesia, which allows you to sleep during the entire surgery.
- The surgeon creates about four small cuts in your abdomen, allowing them to insert small surgical instruments and a camera into your stomach area.
- About 80% of your stomach is surgically removed through the small incisions in your stomach.
- The surgeon builds a narrow tube or "sleeve" with the remaining stomach area, using staples to seal it.
- Once finished, the surgeon will close up your incisions.
- You will be moved to a recovery room for monitoring as you wake up from the anesthesia.
Laparoscopic surgery patients can typically expect to stay one to two days in the hospital for continual health monitoring and pain management.
After your bariatric surgery, your doctor will provide a specific diet for the first four weeks. You’ll also have several checkups with your doctor to monitor your health and ensure there are no complications from the procedure.
Your doctor and nutritionist will help you develop an eating plan that allows you to eat smaller amounts of food while still ensuring your body gets all the nutrients it needs to stay healthy.
- An Expert Team Dedicated to You
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We know that choosing to undergo bariatric surgery is not an easy decision to make. However, weight-loss surgery offers numerous lifelong health benefits that can help improve your quality of life.
Our compassionate surgical weight-loss team — including board-certified bariatric surgeons, nutritionists, physiologists and psychologists — will walk you through the entire process, helping you make the best decisions for your unique health needs. You can feel confident knowing you’re in good hands.
Schedule an appointment today with an AdventHealth Bariatric and Weight Care specialist to learn more about how we can help you achieve and maintain your healthiest weight.
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Bariatric Gastric Sleeve Surgery FAQs
We know that pursuing weight-loss surgery isn’t an easy choice, and you likely have many questions. But you can feel confident knowing that our expert care team is dedicated to answering all your questions and providing the care you need to feel whole in body, mind and spirit.
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Q:Question: How much weight can I expect to lose after surgery?
A:Answer:You can generally expect to lose 10 to 20 pounds in the first few months after surgery. It takes 12 to 18 months to lose 60 to 70% of your pre-surgery weight.
Continue ReadingCollapse AnswerGenerally speaking, bariatric sleeve surgery patients experience rapid weight loss within the first few months post-surgery, losing between 10 to 20 pounds. From there, it normally takes 12 to 18 months for patients to lose between 60 to 70% of their pre-surgery weight. Weight loss will slow down slightly after the first few months post-surgery. However, losing weight too quickly can be jarring to the body and harder to maintain.
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Q:Question: What is the recovery time for bariatric sleeve surgery?
A:Answer:While every patient is unique, it generally takes three to six weeks to fully recover.
Continue ReadingCollapse AnswerEvery patient is different, but it normally takes three to six weeks to fully recover from gastric sleeve bariatric surgery. Pain management, limited diet and only light activity can be expected in the first few weeks after surgery. About a month post-surgery, most patients can return to a regular bariatric-approved diet and increase their activity level.
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Q:Question: What changes are required before and after surgery?
A:Answer:Since weight-loss surgery isn’t a “quick fix,” you’ll need to be willing to commit to a healthier diet and regular exercise before and after surgery.
Continue ReadingCollapse AnswerWhile bariatric surgery helps with weight loss, it's not a "quick fix." Patients need to be willing to commit to a healthier lifestyle, including a nutritious diet and regular exercise. This starts before surgery, as your doctor will ask you to change your diet by removing sugar and fat and increasing protein intake. You’ll also be asked to quit smoking and start a regular exercise program.
For the first few weeks after surgery, you'll be placed on a liquid diet. Soon after, your doctor and dietitian will help you create a bariatric-friendly meal plan. You'll start with soft foods before switching to solid ones and avoid foods that can be troublesome to your new digestive system. They'll also work with you on building mindful eating habits. You may also be asked to take nutritional supplements and continue regular physical activity.
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Q:Question: What are the risks of gastric sleeve surgery?
A:Answer:Immediate complications of gastric sleeve surgery include blood clots, sleeve leakage and nausea. Long-term risks include hernias, gallstones and nutritional deficiencies.
Continue ReadingCollapse AnswerSince this type of bariatric surgery is typically laparoscopic, the potential risk for complications is much lower when compared to more invasive procedures. Potential immediate complications include:
- Adverse reaction to anesthesia
- Blood clots
- Excessive bleeding from the incisions or staples
- Infection
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sleeve leakage at the staple line
There are also potential long-term complications for bariatric surgery, such as:
- Depression or anxiety
- Dumping syndrome
- Gallstones
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
- Hernia
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Small bowel obstruction
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Q:Question: How is gastric sleeve surgery different from other weight-loss surgeries?
A:Answer:Bariatric gastric sleeve surgery is less invasive and complex than other surgeries, which leads to a quicker recovery time.
Continue ReadingCollapse AnswerBariatric gastric sleeve surgery is much less invasive and complex than other types of bariatric surgery like Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or duodenal switch. This allows for a much quicker recovery time. While vertical sleeve gastrectomy only requires removing part of the stomach to make a small "sleeve," both gastric bypass and duodenal switch make your stomach physically smaller and require your small intestines to be rerouted.
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Q:Question: Can the stomach stretch back out after surgery?
A:Answer:If you overeat or have an unhealthy diet, your stomach can stretch, which can lead to health complications.
Continue ReadingCollapse AnswerYour stomach can stretch out after surgery if you constantly overeat or follow an unhealthy diet plan. This can lead to your body no longer feeling as "full" as it should, allowing you to eat more calories and gain weight.
A stomach pouch that stretches out too much can also lead to dumping syndrome, where food moves too quickly through the stomach pouch without being properly digested and passes right to the small intestine and out of the body. Dumping syndrome can lead to nausea, diarrhea, dizziness and nutritional deficiencies.
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Q:Question: How long will I need follow-up care after surgery?
A:Answer:Initially, you can expect a follow-up appointment a few weeks post-surgery, then every few months until it’s been a year.
Continue ReadingCollapse AnswerYour AdventHealth bariatric surgeon will schedule a follow-up appointment a few weeks post-surgery to check how your recovery is going and answer any questions you may have. After that, you can expect a checkup every one to three months so your weight-loss team can monitor your overall health, weight loss and nutrition. Once it’s been a year since your first surgery, your doctor will normally schedule you for annual checkups.
Take Your Best Next Step
If you’re ready to take the first step toward becoming your healthiest self and want to find out if bariatric gastric sleeve surgery is right for you, schedule a consultation today at your nearest AdventHealth Bariatric and Weight Care location.