Is Gastric Sleeve Surgery right for you?

Is your BMI over 30? Are you ready to improve your quality of life? Clinical studies have proven significant weight loss with Gastric Sleeve Surgery.

In clinical studies of severely obese patients, the gastric sleeve surgery has been shown to be a highly effective surgical method for weight loss.

Key Benefits*:

  • Improves co-morbid conditions such as Type 2 diabetes and hypertension
  • Reduces the use of medication to treat certain conditions
  • 46 to 83 percent excess weight loss just one year after surgery
* Results may vary, and outcomes are not guaranteed.

Sleeve-Surgery-The-Lap-Band-Center-1For many obese or severely overweight people, there are times when diet and exercise alone do not work. If a person is facing severe health risks or complications due to their excessive weight, his or her health team may recommend gastric sleeve surgery. This procedure can help a patient lose weight and increase his or her quality of life.

To learn more about this procedure and the expertise of Dr. Naim, contact our office today and schedule a free consultation.

What is Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

The goal of this surgery is to decrease the size of the stomach so that the person can lose weight. By making the stomach smaller, it cannot hold as much food and makes the patient feel full even when they eat less than they are used to. The surgeon will remove approximately half of the stomach so that the new stomach resembles a tube. Surgical staples are used to keep the stomach closed. Patients who are considering this procedure should know that, because a portion of the stomach is being removed, this is not reversible.

Sleeve-Surgery-The-Lap-Band-Center-2Gastric Sleeve Surgery is an alternative to gastric banding and gastric bypass. Sleeve surgery is considered to be simpler than gastric bypass as this method does not require the surgeon to reroute the intestines. Further, banding devices are not used in sleeve surgery as they are in gastric banding.

What are the Benefits?

Gastric sleeve surgery has many benefits for those who are obese and severely overweight with a body mass index of 40 or higher. There are studies that have shown that people who undergo this surgery lose an average of half of their excessive body weight. Those who work with their medical team and follow their diet plan tend to see a higher success. Of course, the exact results that patients see vary from one to the next. You will need to talk with your doctor about the realistic expectations that you can have following your surgery.

While weight loss is usually the main goal, there are some other benefits. For example, patents may be able to control type 2 diabetes, lower their blood pressure, and improve high cholesterol due to the weight loss that can be experienced following this procedure.

Sleeve-Surgery-The-Lap-Band-Center-3What to Expect when Preparing for the Surgery

About two weeks prior to undergoing the surgery, patients should expect to be put on a pre-op diet. This diet must be followed to prevent complications. Patients should also be aware that they should not eat or drink anything the morning of the surgery.

When patients arrive at the hospital, they will be met by their nurse and the anesthesiologist. They will sign all of their consent forms, put on provided garments, and remove any jewelry. The circulating nurse will take the patient to the operating room where the procedure will be completed.

Once the gastric sleeve surgery is completed, hospital staff will monitor the patient in recovery. Once cleared, the patient will be moved to his or her room. Medical staff may help patients move around within the first five hours following the procedure to help reduce the risk of blood clots and to alleviate any pain that may be felt.

For some patients, the procedure can be performed in an outpatient clinic. This typically means a minimally invasive technique and a shorter recovery time. Your doctor will give you an idea of what you can expect.

Sleeve-Surgery-The-Lap-Band-Center-4Recovering from Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Recovering from gastric sleeve surgery is different for everyone. It is typical for patients to stay in the hospital for up to two days. However, some patients are allowed to leave the day after the procedure if they are able to pass gas. Being able to pass gas means that the intestines are working properly. Other surgeons may keep a patient in the hospital for three days.

Surgeons will provide patients with specific guidelines that should be followed once they are discharged. Some general guidelines include sipping water constantly as the intestines may not be able to get liquid out of the food during the first week of recovery. Patients should be aware that it is normal for bowel movements to be painful. Additionally, constipation is also normal due to the pain medications. However, patients should never be afraid to call their surgeon if they have concerns.

Patients may also be told to avoid heavy lifting until the stitches have healed. However, walking does usually help the healing process and encourages healthy activity. Finally, patients should avoid bathing in a bathtub for about two weeks following the surgery. Patients should still be able to shower as normal unless told otherwise by their surgeon.

Your doctor will provide you with specific instructions to follow after surgery that are tailored to your situation. It is important to follow these carefully to help minimize the risk of complications.

Sleeve-Surgery-The-Lap-Band-Center-5Eating after the Surgery

Because the stomach can no longer hold the amount of food it could prior to the surgery, any food that is eaten must be nutrient-dense. This means that the post-op diet may include lean protein, whole grains, and vegetables. The recommended diet will change depending on the stage of recovery.

For the first few days following the procedure, for example, patients can expect to be drinking lots of water and broth. They may be allowed to have sugar-free ice pops. During the second week following recovery, patients may be on a full liquid diet, such as protein shakes. From there, patients may continue to work their way to introducing real foods back into their diet.

As long as patients follow the post-op plan that was designed by their surgeons, they may begin to see the weight come off. If they continue to follow the plan, change their diets and strive to live a healthier, more active life, they are likely to lose weight until they reach their target weight. Maintaining this lifestyle after sleeve surgery is an important part in seeing any kind of long term results.