Many people find it difficult to manage their weight, particularly when it comes to sustaining weight loss. Gastric sleeve surgery, or sleeve gastrectomy, could help you lose weight and keep it off in the long term.
Many people find it difficult to manage their weight, particularly when it comes to sustaining weight loss. Gastric sleeve surgery, or sleeve gastrectomy, could help you lose weight and keep it off in the long term.
35
2 weeks
1 - 2 hours
62 - 63% of excess weight
first 6 weeks
A type of bariatric (weight loss) procedure, gastric sleeve surgery involves the removal of part of your stomach to create a ‘sleeve’ shape. This modification means that you’ll be able to eat less food, but will absorb nutrients in the same way, and should result in steady and safe weight loss.
For those suffering from obesity, gastric sleeve surgery can have many benefits. The benefits of significant weight loss, according to the British Nutrition Foundation, can include:
– Reduced risk of type-2 diabetes
– Lower blood pressure
– Reduced pressure on weight-bearing joints
– Improved heart health
– Increased energy levels
Some of the benefits specific to gastric sleeve surgery include:
– Because it’s performed laparoscopically, it’s minimally invasive
– Can help you lose weight and keep it off in the long term
– Reduces the stomach’s ability to produce a hunger-inducing hormone (ghrelin)
– Can result in a loss of 62-63% of excess weight
Each type of surgery comes with its own risks and side effects. Some of the risks associated with gastric sleeve surgery include:
– Bleeding
– Infection
– Leak in the stomach
– Gastrointestinal obstruction
– Hernia
– Acid reflux
– Low blood sugar
– Malnutrition due to poor absorption of nutrients
– Vomiting
Gastric sleeve surgery is also permanent, meaning that it’s very difficult to reverse. This procedure involves anaesthesia, which involves its own risks and side effects.
For your sleeve gastrectomy, you’ll be given general anaesthetic, meaning that you’ll be asleep for the duration of the surgery.
To begin, your surgeon will make small incisions in your upper abdomen. They will then insert a long, thin tube attached to a tiny camera (a laparoscope) through one of these incisions. The camera is connected to a screen in the operating theatre so that your surgeon can see the area around your stomach.
They will then remove a portion of your stomach, before joining together what remains to create a long, sleeve-shaped tube. This ‘sleeve’ is your new stomach.
The procedure will take around 1 to 2 hours to complete.
If you have a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 40 or over, gastric sleeve surgery could be a suitable option to help you lose and manage your weight. You might also be suitable if your BMI is over 35 and you have weight-related illnesses, such as Type 2 diabetes.
To be suitable for bariatric surgery, you should also be willing to adapt to a new lifestyle and diet following the procedure.
After your procedure, you’ll spend a night in hospital to make sure your recovery is going well. The next day, you should be ready to go home.
Your stomach will likely feel swollen and uncomfortable for the first few days, and you can help to manage this with suitable pain medication.
Your surgeon or nutritional adviser will give you instructions as to what you can and cannot eat following surgery. The post-operative diet is usually liquids-only for the first 2 weeks, before moving on to pureed food in week 3 and soft food in week 4.
For the first few weeks, you might experience some discomfort and tiredness. These symptoms will ease as your body gets used to the change in your digestive system. You should be prepared to take up to 2 weeks off work. After 6 weeks, you should be able to return to your normal routine, including exercise.
I’m in a great place to help you with your weight management journey because I’ve been through weight loss surgery myself.
It was a year after the first lockdown and my weight was getting me down. I was starting to avoid social events, and my confidence was at an all-time low. Having tried many diets unsuccessfully, I started to look into weight loss surgery. Shortly after, I had my gastric surgery. That’s why I’ve joined the team here at Klinikal, as I know exactly how it feels to go through this journey and how I can best support you.
I’m almost 2 years on, and my life has never been better. I’m happy, feeling great and I’ve met the love of my life – all things that didn’t seem possible before my surgery. In total, I’ve lost 7.5 stone, but I’ve gained confidence, peace of mind and find myself just really loving life
Learn about Gastric Sleeve surgery and its role in weight loss from Klinikal Surgeon Assistant Eunicia in this video. She’ll discuss how this targeted procedure not only aids in weight loss but also contributes to long-term health, offering a practical and cost-effective solution for overall wellbeing.
Our highly experienced team have helped 1000’s of patients achieve their weight loss goals.
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Deciding to have weight loss surgery can be really empowering. But to help you make an informed decision, you need to understand the surgical process and what your journey will involve. At Klinikal, we know that this is important.
We’ve summarised each stage of the journey to give you an idea, but of course your experience will be tailored to your own needs.
Nice to meet you!
Your journey with us begins with a call from a weight management surgeon assistant. One of our highly experienced, friendly surgeon assistants will talk you through our weight loss procedures, pricing and finance options, and answer any questions that you might have.
Meet your surgeon
After speaking to your surgeon assistant, they’ll match you with the right bariatric surgeon for your procedure. You’ll meet them via video call, where they’ll take you through your surgery in more detail. If required, you’ll meet your surgeon in person.
Meet your dietitian
Your dietitian will be an important part of your weight loss journey. Before your surgery day, you’ll meet them to go through the dietary changes that you’ll need to make pre and post-surgery. They’ll give you plenty of advice and will be able to answer any dietary questions that you might have.
Pre-op nurse appointment
It’s important that you’re fit to go ahead with your surgery. That’s why we’ll schedule in an appointment with one of our lovely nurses, who’ll make sure that you’re well enough to proceed.
Surgery day
It’s the day you’ve been waiting for! We’ll welcome you into one of our Klinikal locations where you’ll settle into your private room. You’ll then head down to theatre to have your procedure. Afterwards, you’ll be taken back to your luxurious suite to recuperate.
Post-op and beyond
Once you return home to recover, you’ll have our full support. You’ll have post-op appointments with a nurse and you’ll see your surgeon again to make sure that you’re recovering nicely. Your surgeon assistant and dietitian will also be in touch regularly, and you can call our helpline if you have any issues.
Nice to meet you!
Your journey with us begins with a call from a weight management surgeon assistant. One of our highly experienced, friendly surgeon assistants will talk you through our weight loss procedures, pricing and finance options, and answer any questions that you might have.
Meet your surgeon
After speaking to your surgeon assistant, they’ll match you with the right bariatric surgeon for your procedure. You’ll meet them via video call, where they’ll take you through your surgery in more detail. If required, you’ll meet your surgeon in person.
Meet your dietitian
Your dietitian will be an important part of your weight loss journey. Before your surgery day, you’ll meet them to go through the dietary changes that you’ll need to make pre and post-surgery. They’ll give you plenty of advice and will be able to answer any dietary questions that you might have.
Pre-op nurse appointment
It’s important that you’re fit to go ahead with your surgery. That’s why we’ll schedule in an appointment with one of our lovely nurses, who’ll make sure that you’re well enough to proceed.
Surgery day
It’s the day you’ve been waiting for! We’ll welcome you into one of our Klinikal locations where you’ll settle into your private room. You’ll then head down to theatre to have your procedure. Afterwards, you’ll be taken back to your luxurious suite to recuperate.
Post-op and beyond
Once you return home to recover, you’ll have our full support. You’ll have post-op appointments with a nurse and you’ll see your surgeon again to make sure that you’re recovering nicely. Your surgeon assistant and dietitian will also be in touch regularly, and you can call our helpline if you have any issues.
A gastric sleeve cannot be reversed, as it involves changing the shape of the stomach. If the gastric sleeve is causing you serious problems, it can be converted into another procedure.
All surgeries carry risks and side effects. Gastric sleeve surgery can be a very successful weight management tool when performed by an experienced bariatric surgeon.
It is possible to gain weight after having gastric sleeve surgery. However, if you stick to your post-op diet and exercise plan, you should continue to lose weight and maintain your weight loss.
After gastric sleeve surgery, your stomach will be around 2 to 3 ounces, or 60 to 90ml, in volume.
The main difference between gastric sleeve and gastric bypass surgery is the way in which the stomach is modified.
The gastric sleeve procedure involves removing a portion of the stomach, whereas during a gastric bypass a small pouch is created from the stomach, and the small bowel is rerouted. This makes it a more invasive and complicated procedure than gastric sleeve surgery. However, gastric bypass surgery can result in faster weight loss.
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