Weight Loss Using Gastric Sleeve Surgery

By Estelle Larsen


A lot of health problems in terms of weight can be solved in a few ways through surgery. Overweight and obesity can be surgically treated that is different from cosmetic procedure. There are two known types which are Restrictive and Malabsorptive Surgeries. Restrictive type takes away a portion of the stomach so it can hold lesser amount of food for quicker digestion. Malabsorptive type tends to create a bypass within the digestive tract, either the stomach or gastric tract, so it would not take in calories.

Malabsorptive surgery has a lot of complications when done as a stand alone procedure. The cost for a gastric sleeve surgery in Mexico starts at forty six hundred dollars while in the United States it would be around fifteen thousand to around twenty five thousand dollars. This can be a stand alone procedure.

This is fully known as Laparoscopic Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy is a type of restrictive surgery. It removes about eighty five percent of the stomach. This in turn would make the stomach smaller where it would look like a tube instead, hence why it is called a sleeve.

Several small incisions are made on the abdomen. This is called an open procedure and small instruments as well as a camera is slid inside the cuts. It is a laparoscopic procedure since a camera is used as visual guide for the duration of the operation.

Having this approach is a huge step for treatment in obesity. This should be considered when the methods for medicine, exercise, and diet have no effect on the patient anymore. This surgery type is actually part of an overall procedure called the duodenal switch. Is is later on included as part of the gastric bypass procedure. The bypass is no longer done in a stand alone process due to a lot of risks and complications.

This takes about one and a half hours. The patient needs to stay in for two to three nights for recovery. The healing process is surprisingly fast and most patients are able to go back to their normal activities after three weeks.

Of course, since this is very risky, there are some complications that might happen if not well monitored. Sleeve leaking, infection, blood clots, nausea and vomiting, appetite loss, and stomach pains due to esophageal spasms. There is also a possibility where food goes down too fast towards the small intestine that it causes diarrhea for the patient, or also known as the dumping syndrome.

For the duration of a month or two, your doctor will guide you in your recovery. In the first month of the healing process, your stomach can handle only liquids or soft food. Make sure to be always hydrated for the duration of the day, so drink water regularly. The bowel movements would most likely be less often but this is common during the healing process. Be sure not to be constipated as well.

The success rate in weight loss can go more than half of the excess weight of the patient which is about sixty six percent. You can compare this to other bariatric procedures which is about sixty two to forty one percent. Making sure to follow the guidelines from the doctor and a realistic approach with the weight loss could help a lot. As well as being physically active and having a healthy lifestyle.




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