Are you struggling to lose weight? Do you suffer from weight-related medical conditions like type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure? If this is the case, then a gastric sleeve might be the solution you’re looking for.
A gastric sleeve is a type of weight loss surgery that, with a healthy diet and a modified lifestyle, can help you achieve your weight loss goal and improve your health and wellbeing.
Today we’re going to go through everything you need to know about gastric sleeve surgery. We’ll also look at how it can help you get to the stage in your life where you feel healthier and happier about your body.
What is a gastric sleeve?
The gastric sleeve or sleeve gastrectomy is a surgical procedure where the stomach’s capacity is reduced, helping with weight loss.
The procedure involves removing a large portion of the stomach, which means you’ll only be able to consume small amounts of food at a time, making it easier to lose weight.
What happens during the gastric sleeve procedure?
Gastric sleeve surgery is completed via keyhole surgery.
There are two main parts to a gastric sleeve procedure:
- The surgeon will remove a large part of your stomach – around 85%
- Then they’ll join the remaining parts of your stomach together with surgical staples
During the procedure, you’ll also be under a general anaesthetic.
This surgery gives patients a smaller stomach meaning they’ll feel full after eating only a small amount of food.
How does a gastric sleeve work?
Weight loss with a gastric sleeve works in two ways:
- The size of the stomach is reduced, and it becomes more resistant to stretching. This makes you feel fuller after only eating a small amount of food
- The hormone responsible for stimulating appetite (ghrelin) is made in a section of the stomach that’s removed during surgery. This causes your ghrelin levels to drop, which means you’ll have less of an appetite.
The gastric sleeve can also help change your preference for food. It stops you from craving sugary and fatty foods meaning you’re less likely to eat unhealthy food.
Are there any risks with gastric sleeve surgery?
Out of all the weight loss surgeries available gastric sleeves have the most risks associated with them.
The risks involved with a gastric sleeve include:
- Bleeding
This is the most common risk, but it can be managed with a blood transfusion to prevent further operation – there is a 0.5% chance of bleeding.
- Leakage
Leakage is the most dangerous risk with gastric sleeve surgery. This is where the contents of the stomach leak through the long-staple line – there is a 0.5% chance of leakage.
- Reflux
If you have a history of heartburn, you won’t be able to get a gastric sleeve. This is mainly because, after the operation, your reflux will worsen. It can even develop into chronic reflux, which can be a severe problem.
Who’s the ideal candidate for a gastric sleeve?
The ideal candidate for gastric sleeve surgery is somebody who:
- Is between the age of 18-65
- Has a BMI of 40+ or 35+ with other medical conditions
- Has no history of reflux/heartburn
If you’re interested in gastric sleeve surgery, your surgeon will discuss your eligibility during your initial consultation.
How much weight can you lose with a gastric sleeve?
The average person with a gastric sleeve loses quite a lot of weight initially, and it levels out over time.
Depending on your current weight and how well you stick to the nutritional guidelines set by your doctor, you could lose between 6-10 stone in the first year of having a gastric sleeve.
Even with a gastric sleeve, your weight loss relies on how much effort you’re willing to put in both with nutrition and exercise. The more a patient follows their program, the more weight they’ll lose.
Some people with a gastric sleeve have even lost 15 stone within the first 12 months because they worked hard on their after-care program.
What are the health benefits of a gastric sleeve?
The gastric sleeve has a lot of health benefits, including:
- Reducing the possibility of a heart attack or stroke
- Improving Type 2 diabetes
- Reducing fatigue
- Improving joint and back pain
- Improving stress levels
- Improving asthma symptoms
- Reduces the chances of obesity-related diseases like fatty liver
- Reduces depression and anxiety
- Enhances self-confidence and quality of life
If you think that gastric sleeve surgery is the perfect way for you to lose weight, then Auralia is here to help.
Our experienced team can help provide you with all the information you need about gastric sleeve surgery and help get you to your weight loss goal.
Please get in contact with one of our team members today to book a call and learn more about our gastric sleeve surgery.
