Gastric Sleeve

What is a gastric sleeve?

Gastric sleeve surgery, or sleeve gastrectomy, is a newer approach to weight loss surgery for people struggling with obesity.

AMI Surgery creates the gastric sleeve by dividing your stomach into two sections using a stapling device. They then remove the larger portion (as much as 80% of your stomach’s total volume), leaving behind a narrow section called a sleeve.

Unlike gastric banding, gastric sleeve surgery doesn’t require inserting any devices. It also differs from Roux-en-Y gastric bypass as there’s no rerouting of your intestines, which means less risk of experiencing nutritional deficiencies. 

Most people find they lose a similar amount of weight with gastric sleeve surgery as those who undergo gastric banding. However, weight loss is less than with gastric bypass.

How does gastric sleeve surgery help with weight loss?

Gastric sleeve surgery is a restrictive procedure, which means the size of the sleeve restricts the quantity of food you can eat at one time. You feel full much more quickly and can’t overeat as there’s nowhere for the excess food to go.

Gastric sleeve surgery also removes populations of cells in your stomach that contain the hormone ghrelin, which stimulates hunger. Having a gastric sleeve means your ghrelin levels are very low, which greatly reduces your appetite.

What happens when I have gastric sleeve surgery?

The AMI Surgery team performs gastric sleeve surgery using minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques. This method requires only small incisions, which means it has significant advantages over open surgery. 

Advantages include:

• Reduced blood loss
• Less postoperative pain
• Smaller scars
• Faster recovery

Gastric sleeve surgery takes about two hours and you need to stay in the hospital for 1-2 days afterward. Patients usually get back to work and other normal activities within a week or two.

Sleeve gastrectomy is an irreversible procedure, as your surgeon takes the majority of your stomach away. If you’re a very high-risk patient, the AMI Surgery team can perform gastric sleeve surgery as the first stage of a gastric bypass, leaving the intestinal adjustments to a later date.

What happens after my gastric sleeve surgery?

After your gastric sleeve surgery, you need to go on a special diet to enable you to lose weight safely. You should start to see your weight come down within days or weeks after gastric sleeve surgery.

For more information about gastric sleeve surgery, call AMI Surgery or book an appointment online today.