What Is Bariatric Surgery?
Bariatric surgery refers to any surgical procedure that alters the stomach or intestines to help promote weight loss in obese patients.
The bariatric definition translated from Greek is “bar” for “weight“, “iatr” for “treatment”, and “ic” for “pertaining to” and it has been used since the mid-1960s to describe the field of medicine associated with the treatment of obesity.
The treatment of obesity includes different approaches to weight loss including diet, exercise, surgery, prescription weight loss management, behavioral therapy, etc.
There are different techniques used in bariatric surgery to help promote weight loss in patients. The restrictive technique is used to limit the amount of food an individual can ingest at one time and the malabsorptive technique inhibits the body from absorbing all the nutrients and calories from that food.
All bariatric surgeries utilize the restrictive technique and gastric sleeve weight loss surgery is the procedure used to create this restriction. Gastric sleeve surgery is the first step done in both gastric bypass and duodenal switch bariatric surgery.
What Is Gastric Sleeve Bariatric Surgery?
Vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG), laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), gastric sleeve, sleeve gastrectomy, and sleeve weight loss surgery are all names that are used to describe the same surgical weight loss procedure.
During gastric sleeve weight loss surgery, the surgeon reduces the capacity of the patient’s stomach by cutting and removing about 75% which leaves the patient with a much smaller stomach that resembles a small banana.
How Weight Loss Surgery With Gastric Sleeve Works
The stomach’s reduced capacity works as a “forced” portion control mechanism and limits how much food the individual can eat at one time. They will feel full after eating very little and they will stay satisfied longer.
The Gastric Sleeve Surgical Procedure Steps
- General anesthesia is administered to the patient before the 60 to 90-minute surgery begins;
- The surgeon makes approximately 5 small incisions in the patient’s abdomen. One of the incisions is located near or in the belly button and is used for a special instrument that has an attached camera called a laparoscope. This allows the surgeon to view and navigate the surgical site on a video monitor that is positioned close by;
- The patient’s abdomen is flooded with a special gas to create some space that allows the surgeon to more easily access the stomach to perform the surgery;
- Using other special surgical instruments inserted through the other incisions, the surgeon removes a significant amount of the patient’s stomach and creates a new smaller stomach by using surgical staples to close the incisional edges;
- The surgeon completes the procedure by removing the surgical instruments and closing up the incision sites.
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Bariatric Gastric Sleeve Surgery Risks
Possible risks associated with gastric sleeve surgery include:
- Anesthesia reaction;
- Stomach leaking;
- Excessive bleeding;
- Infection;
- Intestinal blockage;
- Hernia;
- Acid reflux;
- Nausea;
- Vomiting.
How Do I Get Gastric Sleeve Weight Loss Surgery?
Individuals who are interested in having gastric sleeve surgery must first qualify as a candidate for the procedure. Generally, to qualify for gastric sleeve surgery, like any other bariatric surgery, candidates must have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or over. The patient will also qualify if their BMI is at least 35 and they have any weight-related illness such as high blood pressure, sleep apnea, or type two diabetes.
Patients also must be in good health, be free from any conditions that would disqualify them from having surgery under general anesthesia, and be willing to commit to necessary lifestyle changes that will work with the gastric sleeve surgery to help them achieve weight loss success.
If you are not deemed a good candidate for gastric sleeve surgery, there are non-surgical weight loss options you can explore. A gastric balloon procedure and endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) are both non-surgical procedures that are less invasive and do not require criteria for qualification as strict as bariatric surgery.
What Is A No-Surgery Gastric Sleeve?
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) is a procedure that does not require surgery or any incisions. The patient’s stomach is altered by folding and securing the new shape and no part of the stomach is cut or removed. ESG is safe and effective and offers weight loss potential that is very similar to that of the gastric sleeve but without having to undergo surgery. There is no hospital stay and the recovery is very short. Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty offers an excellent opportunity for patients seeking help to lose weight.
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Bariatric Surgery Options Near Me
IBI Healthcare Institute is your trusted source for bariatric surgery and weight management. Our professional team of physicians will work with you to determine your weight loss goals and options.
Together, our team can determine if a weight loss surgery sleeve is the right option for your weight loss journey. Contact us today to set up a consultation to learn more about gastric sleeve surgery or non-surgical weight loss options.
