Gastric Sleeve Surgery
The Gastric Sleeve procedure, also known as sleeve gastrectomy or vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG), reduces weight primarily through restriction, or creating a smaller stomach. Through good nutrition and smaller portion sizes, patients lose weight while having a feeling of fullness. Secondarily, the gastric sleeve is thought to significantly reduce the production of the “hunger hormone” ghrelin, which reduces the amount of hunger patients feel after surgery. Depending on your unique needs, the sleeve gastrectomy can be an excellent tool for gaining long-term control of weight.
Ideal Candidates
The gastric sleeve procedure may be particularly suited to persons with a BMI of 35+ with co-morbidities such as diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, joint pain who wish to have profound rapid weight loss without re-routing the GI tract like gastric bypass. Some people choose the gastric sleeve so they can be more tolerant of certain medications like steroids or NSAIDs. The gastric sleeve may also be for people who want to have surgery and get on with their life with less frequent management of their new tool like gastric banding.
Advantages
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Performed laparoscopically: leads to faster healing and less pain.
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Restrictive weight loss procedure: minimal malabsorption compared to gastric bypass and duodenal switch.
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Less hunger: reduces hunger hormone ghrelin.
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No re-routing of the GI tract: lowers risks of intestinal obstruction, anemia, and osteomalacia compared to gastric bypass and duodenal switch.
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No foreign device and less management needs: compared to gastric banding.
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Excellent results: safe, reliable and effective.
Disadvantages
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Stomach stapling: risk of leakage and other complications directly related to stapling.
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Major surgery: risks of bleeding, blood clots, wound infection, pneumonia, and death
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Permanent reduction of the stomach.
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Heartburn: due to the amount of restriction the sleeve affords some patients experience indigestion.
Procedure
At Nashvile Weight Loss Solutions, Dr. Houston performs the Sleeve Gastrectomy as a minimally-invasive (laparoscopic) procedure where very small incisions allow abdominal access with small instruments. This approach leads to reduced pain, less scarring, and faster recovery. The surgery takes about one hour to perform, and most patients stay in the hospital 2 nights and return to work in 2 weeks.
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The procedure involves removing about 80% of the stomach, which creates a “sleeve” of your stomach –reducing it from the size and shape of a football to a medium banana. The new stomach can only hold about 3-4 ounces of solid food at one time, resulting in significant reduction in the size of your meal. Sleeve gastrectomy preserves the stomach’s pyloric valve, which regulates emptying of the stomach. This allows for the normal process of stomach emptying to continue and thus the prolonged feeling of fullness with small bites. The remainder of the stomach is removed, which is an irreversible part of the procedure.
Results
Weight loss approaches that which is seen with gastric bypass surgery. Average weight loss is projected to be in the range of 65% of excess body weight.* Success rates of weight loss surgery are much higher when patients are an active participant in a comprehensive Aftercare program like offered at Nashville Weight Loss Solutions.
I had gastric sleeve surgery in November of 2014. Finally, I am in control of what goes into my stomach every moment of every day. Two years later, the excess weight is shed and I am stronger, happier, and healthier than I ever dreamed possible. It is truly a privilege to be under the care of Dr. Hugh Houston and his team at Nashville Weight Loss Solutions.*
---Jen D.
*Individual results may vary.
Am I a Candidate?
Visit our Pathway to Surgery page to find out if you are a candidate for bariatric surgery, see if your insurance will cover bariatric surgery, and learn how to take the next step.
To learn more about Sleeve Gastrectomy or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Houston, please call us at (615) 342-5820 or complete our contact form.