The Sleeve Weight Loss Surgery

Read here about the sleeve weight loss surgery and how it works, the risks and costs of such an operation!

More and more people are gaining extra weight than is necessary. Some are due to medical reasons while others are due to poor lifestyles. As a result, these same individuals are constantly looking for ways through which they can lose some weight. Fortunately, with the sleeve weight loss surgery, you can now do just that.

The sleeve weight loss surgery is a surgical weight loss operation in which your stomach is surgically reduced to by nearly 25% of its original size. This is done by removing large portions of your stomach along the greater curvature.

The final result of the sleeve weight loss surgery operation, is medically referred to as a sleeve or a tube. This operation is more of a permanent solution, though there may be a bit of dilation of your stomach later on in your life. Today, sleeve weight loss surgery is one of the most sought out weight loss surgery in countries such as the US.

The result of undergoing this type of surgery is that you will feel fuller as you eat. This is basically due to the fact that your stomach has been reduced in size. In this article, you will get to learn a few things regarding this procedure, so as to further enlighten you if you are thinking about having one.



Preparation for the surgery

Before you undergo the actual surgery, you will receive general anesthesia first. This is meant to keep you asleep throughout the entire operation; it also helps in keeping you pain free. By use of a tinny medical camera (laparoscope), the surgeon is able to use it in making the incisions in your belly.

During the sleeve weight loss surgery, your surgeon will make 3 to 4 small incisions in your abdomen. Then, he/she will pass the camera and other essential instruments for the operation into your abdomen through these small cuts/openings.

The laparoscope is hooked onto a video monitor in the operating room which allows the surgeon to take a monitor and look at the inside of your belly as they perform the surgery. With the help of the instruments, the surgeon will cut off bits of your stomach.

Once they have removed the necessary portion of your stomach, the remaining portions are joined together by the use of surgical staples, hence creating what is known as the long vertical, which resembles the shape of a banana.

Typically, this procedure should last between 60 to 100 minutes when done correctly. Also, the surgeon takes care not to touch or interfere anyway with the sphincter muscles. It is these muscles that are responsible for allowing food to either enter or leave the stomach.

Once you have undergone the sleeve weight loss surgery, you will notice that your “pouch” fills up more easily than before. Due to the probability of you suffering from gallstones, your surgeon may recommend that you undergo cholecystectomy to remove the gallbladder before you undergo the surgery.



Why Should You Undergo This Surgery

the sleeve weight loss surgery may be a great option for individuals suffering from clinical obesity and have tried every single way to lose weight, through exercising and any other means. Unknown to some, this procedure is not a cosmetic procedure and it can’t be reversed at all.

The vertical sleeve surgery is also not a fast fix for obesity. It’s just a first step towards attaining and maintaining the proper weight, but one thing is for sure, it will change your life in a huge way. You will need to eat healthy, balanced and nutritious foods in controlled portions. This means no more over indulging in your favorite food.

Apart from your doctor recommending right food to eat, he/she will also advise you on the right type of exercises you will have to engage in so as to recover quickly. Failure to observe these instructions to the latter may lead to dire consequences and you may never benefit from the surgery.



The procedure

This video explains the Gastric Sleeve Weight Loss procedure.




The sleeve weight loss surgery may recommend to individuals who have:

  • A body mass index of around 40 or above. Normal BMI is set at around between 18.5 and 25.
  • If you are suffering from, a medical condition as a result of higher BMI rates and you may improve significantly with the loss of weight i.e. Sleep apnea, type two diabetes and some heart conditions.
Also, it is common for patients who are too heavy to undergo other types of weight loss surgery to undergo sleeve weight loss surgery. In fact, in some instances, these patients may end up requiring secondary weight loss surgery.



Risks

Every coin has a second face, and the sleeve weight loss surgery has a bit of risk associated with it, just like most other surgeries. This may include (risks of any other surgery):
  • Allergic reaction to the medicines.
  • Problems with breathing after the surgery.
  • Blood loss.
  • Blood clot.
  • Heart attack.
  • A stroke during surgery.
  • Infection.

Risks associated with sleeve weight loss surgery include:
  • Gastritis.
  • Heartburn.
  • Stomach ulcers.
  • Injury to your stomach/other organs during surgery.
  • Leakages from where the stomach lining had been joined with surgical staples.
  • Scarring on the belly.
  • Blockage of your bowel movement.
  • Vomiting.
  • Nausea.
  • Irritation.
  • Light headedness.



Pre-Surgery Preparations

Before you are scheduled to undergo surgery, your surgeon will require you to undergo a few tests and medical examinations during your visit to the hospital. Here are a few of what to expect during such a visit:
  • A thorough physical examination.
  • Blood tests.
  • Scanning and ultrasound of your gallbladder so as to ascertain whether or not you are fit for surgery.
  • Nutritional counseling.
  • Heart and lung examination.
During these visits, you will also be advised to attend classes meant to teach you what to expect during the surgery, what happens afterwards, the risks involved and what to expect later on in life.

These classes and counseling are meant to ensure that you understand that after the sleeve weight loss surgery, you will need to make drastic changes to the way you leave your life, possibly for the rest of your life.

Also ensure that you follow your doctor’s instructions to the latter. You may also seek the services of a nutritionist so as to come up with the right balanced diet.