The Sleeve Gastrectomy is a weight loss procedure done to treat morbid obesity which removes part of the stomach and controls don the portion of meals that one consumes on a routine basis. Like all other metabolic surgeries, sleeve gastrectomy changes the hormonal signals throughout the stomach, brain, and liver which promote weight loss. The doctor performs the sleeve gastrectomy laparoscopically and removes as 75 per cent of the stomach. The result is the stomach size shrinking, taking the shape of a tube or "sleeve" which has a lesser capacity to hold the food.
Individuals having a history or habit of eating large portion sizes in their meals are usually recommended the sleeve gastrectomy. However, if you are a person possessing eating habits of snacking on small or proper meals, every now and then, then sleeve gastrectomy will not be a suitable weight loss procedure for you as you won't be able to refrain from food that much. Individuals have the highest success rate of sleeve gastrectomy if they are able to stick to the dietary advice given to them by the dietician post the surgery and opt for a varied healthy diet as well as an increase in activity such as sports or exercising. Failure in obeying such dietary guidelines may result in poor weight loss and sometimes, can also rather lead to weight regain, making sleeve gastrectomy surgery unsuccessful. Sleeve gastrectomy is also quite suitable for individuals falling in the category of body mass index of 40 and above, but in some cases, but in some cases, individuals with lower BMI can also be considered.
For patients undergoing sleeve gastrectomy, there can be several advantages.
• Patients can lose up to between 45-60% of their excess body weight, right after the first 2 years after sleeve gastrectomy.
• Obesity-related problems such as hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea and abnormal cholesterol levels are cured to a great extent after sleeve gastrectomy
• Sleeve gastrectomy is much simpler than gastric bypass and can also control diabetes.
• The procedure can make the patient much productive, thereby increased physical activity, self-confidence, engagement in social opportunities.
• Sleeve gastrectomy is a minimally invasive procedure, leading to lesser side effects and recovery time
The sleeve gastrectomy surgery is done with the help of a laparoscope, in which the doctor makes small incisions in the patient’s abdomen using the help of the camera, thereby avoiding the need to conduct the much complicated open surgery. The surgeon then inserts other medical devices and removes around 3/4th of the stomach pouch. The remaining part of the stomach is stitched in the form the "sleeve" which is narrow and has a lesser capacity for food. This crash in the food intake then helps with the weight loss.
After the Sleeve gastrectomy surgery, patients are advised by the doctor to at least for two days in the hospital, after which they are discharged. The general recovery time for sleeve gastrectomy patients is about that of a week, after which patients can resume their daily lifestyle and get back to work. In order to make the surgery successful, patients also need to engage in certain upgradation in their lifestyle for a better weight loss, as well as a healthy diet and regular physical activity.
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