Gastric sleeve
surgery is a very effective weight loss procedure.
Vertical sleeve gastrectomy, or gastric sleeve surgery, is a weight-loss procedure in which a portion of the stomach is removed in order to limit food intake. The portion of the stomach that remains resembles a sleeve and can hold approximately six ounces of food.
Recovery Period
Because a large portion of the stomach is removed, recovery for gastric sleeve surgery is often longer than for other forms of weight-loss surgery. Patients can expect to stay in the hospital for one or two days, and full recovery may take several weeks.
Post-Operative Diet
Patients will need to follow a strict liquid diet for two weeks after surgery. This is followed by a two-week period of pureed food and then a reintroduction to solid foods.
Results
Sleeve gastrectomy is a relatively new procedure and no long-term results are available, but many patients lose approximately 65 percent of excess body weight within the first two years after surgery.
Complications
The abdomen may be swollen and sore for several days. Your surgeon may prescribe pain medication for the discomfort. There is a small risk of leakage at the stapling site, and some scarring may occur.
Maintenance
Because the stomach pouch can stretch over time, gastric sleeve surgery does not usually provide the same amount of sustained weight loss as other procedures. Patients may later choose to undergo gastric bypass or another procedure after losing enough weight.
