Gastric sleeve surgery is the most common type of weight loss surgery and offers excellent long term weight loss results.
What is gastric sleeve surgery?
Gastric sleeve surgery is a type of weight loss surgery that usually results in dramatic weight loss. It is also known as laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy or sleeve gastrectomy. The procedure involves reducing the size of your stomach by about 75%. This means it can hold much less food. You therefore eat less and consume fewer calories.
A sleeve gastrectomy procedure also removes the part of your stomach that makes ghrelin – the hormone that stimulates hunger. This means you have less appetite after surgery and feel fuller between meals. The combination of a smaller stomach, reduced appetite and other changes to your metabolism usually leads to rapid weight loss that starts immediately after the operation.
Most people who have gastric sleeve surgery lose between 50 and 70% of their excess body weight within two years.
What happens during gastric sleeve surgery?
Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is a keyhole procedure performed under general anaesthetic. Your surgeon starts by making a few small cuts in your abdomen. They pass surgical instruments through these cuts to carefully divide your stomach and remove a large part of it. The remaining stomach is closed using surgical staples, creating a long, sleeve-shaped tube that holds about 200-300 mL (compared to 1000-1300 mL beforehand). After removing the instruments your surgeon will stitch the cuts closed. As part of the stomach is removed during this procedure, it cannot be reversed.
How long does gastric sleeve surgery take?
The procedure usually takes approximately 60 to 90 minutes.
What are the benefits of gastric sleeve surgery?
This type of bariatric surgery can result in substantial weight loss in a relatively short time. You can eat normally but you’ll want much smaller portions, which reduces your calorie intake. Gastric sleeve surgery also preserves the valve that controls stomach emptying, helping you feel full while food slowly moves into the small bowel. Changes to hunger hormones assist the weight loss process.
Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy does not involve rearranging bowel tissue. This means you may not experience ‘dumping’ – the rapid emptying of stomach contents that can occasionally affect people after gastric bypass surgery.
Benefits of sustained weight loss after gastric sleeve surgery include:
- Improvement in health conditions like type 2 diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, arthritis, sleep apnoea, high cholesterol, and reflux
- Enhanced energy levels
- Improved fertility in women
- Greater ease of movement and ability to do everyday things
- Less risk of developing new weight-related medical conditions
What are the disadvantages of gastric sleeve surgery?
Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is safe for most people and serious complications are rare. All types of surgery carry risks, including bleeding, pain, infection, blood clot, or reaction to the anaesthetic. Possible risks of gastric sleeve surgery include:
- Scarring that creates bowel blockage
- Narrowing or stretching of the sleeve
- Inflammation of the stomach lining, stomach ulcers or gastric reflux (heartburn)
- Injury to nearby organs
- Leakage from the staple lines that can cause serious infection
- Vitamin deficiency.
A small percentage of people will not lose the amount of weight expected or regain lost weight later. Sleeve gastrectomy is not reversible.
Your surgeon will talk to you about the possible risk of complications and take every precaution to prevent them. They can help you explore the pros and cons and make an informed decision about bariatric surgery.
Is gastric sleeve surgery right for me?
You may be able to have gastric sleeve surgery if:
- Your body mass index (BMI) is 35 or more
- Your BMI is over 30 and you have one or more weight-related health problems (such as type 2 diabetes, sleep apnoea, or high blood pressure)
- You’ve tried other ways to lose weight (such as dieting, exercise and medications) and these haven’t worked
- You’re committed to making diet and lifestyle changes to support and sustain weight loss
- You’re healthy enough to have a general anaesthetic and surgery.
Your surgeon can talk to you about whether you’re eligible for weight loss surgery.
How do I get a referral to a weight loss surgery expert?
If your GP (General Practitioner) thinks you could benefit from weight loss surgery, seeking advice from a bariatric surgery expert is the next step.
Our world-class surgeons offer advanced weight management procedures at various locations Australia wide. Ask your GP to refer you to one of our experienced specialists or doctors who perform bariatric surgery.
Your doctor can address the referral to a specific specialist or doctor, or simply to ‘Dear Doctor’.
How much does gastric sleeve surgery cost?
The cost of gastric sleeve surgery will depend on your surgeon, anaesthetist and level of health cover.
You can also choose to self-fund your surgery. Ask your surgeon for more information about costs and payment options.
How do I prepare for gastric sleeve surgery?
Weight loss surgery is not a quick fix solution for long-term weight management. Choosing to have gastric sleeve surgery means making a commitment to changing your diet and lifestyle. It’s a good idea to start making these changes in the weeks leading up to surgery.
Your surgeon may put you on a very low calorie diet (Optifast) before your procedure. This helps to shrink your liver, making the surgery easier to perform. Your surgeon or dietitian will explain this to you. You should also tell your surgeon about any medications or supplements you’re taking. If you’re taking blood thinners, you will need to cease these prior to surgery.
Here are some other ways to prepare for sleeve gastrectomy.
- Stock up on healthy drinks, purees, and thin soups for when you first come home from hospital.
- Learn what you can about nutrition and physical activity.
- Make sure you have the medications you’ll need after surgery (in liquid form if necessary).
- Do things to support your mental wellbeing, such as meditation, nature walks or journaling.
- If you smoke, try to quit six weeks before surgery to reduce risks and optimise your recovery.
- Organise a friend or family member to pick you up from hospital.
- Ask friends or family members if they can help with daily activities like shopping, cooking and cleaning in the early days after your surgery.
- Put everyday items you use a lot within easy reach, so you won’t have to overstretch or strain to get them.
- Make sure you have a stable chair with armrests you can sit on.
- Organise time off work (see more about recovery times below).
What does recovery from gastric sleeve surgery involve?
After surgery, most people stay in hospital for about two nights. Your stomach may be sore and swollen for several days. You can take over-the-counter pain medications such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. Some people may need prescription pain medications for a short period. You might also be prescribed medicines that reduce stomach acid.
The keyhole incisions will be covered with dressings. These are normally removed about 10 days after surgery.
You will need to take it easy after surgery to avoid straining your wounds. It’s a good idea to have someone around who can help you with everyday tasks when you get home.
Your surgeon or a dietitian will explain the diet you need to follow after gastric sleeve surgery. You’ll be on liquid foods for a few weeks, gradually progressing to soft moist foods, then solid foods at about four to six weeks. You’ll notice that your stomach fills quickly, and you will only need small portions.
You can usually start walking a few days after surgery. Most people can get back to their usual activities within two to four weeks. Depending on the type of work you do, you’ll need anywhere between a few days and a few weeks off. Your surgeon will talk to you about returning to work and when to start exercising.
FAQs about gastric sleeve surgery
Can gastric sleeve surgery be reversed?
No. It is a permanent procedure.
Can gastric sleeve surgery fail?
While sleeve gastrectomy has a high success rate, some people may not achieve their desired weight loss. Others lose weight initially but regain it again. This can occur if you fall back into old habits that led to weight gain in the first place. It is also possible for the sleeve to stretch.
If you have any concerns, it’s important to book a review with your surgeon. They can assess what might be happening and help you develop a plan for getting back on track with weight loss. Occasionally, this may involve a revision bariatric surgery.
How much weight can I expect to lose?
Most people lose 25-35% of their starting weight after gastric sleeve surgery. However, everyone is unique, and results vary from one person to another. You will start to lose weight quickly after the procedure and can usually expect to continue losing weight for 12 to 18 months.
We’re a Centre of Excellence
Norwest Private Hospital was evaluated based on rigorous and proven standards set by SRC. Accreditation requirements encompass physicians’ surgical expertise and experience, the standardisation of clinical pathways, consultative services, equipment and instruments, and patient education.
This accomplishment demonstrates Norwest Private Hospital’s commitment to delivering the highest standard of care and excellence to our patients.
Find out more about bariatric & weight loss surgery at Norwest Private Hospital
*Whilst effort is made to ensure that the information contained on this website is accurate and informative and it has been reviewed by a qualified medical practitioner, the information is general in nature, and it should not be used as a substitute for obtaining your own professional or medical advice. Any timeframes or quantitative data including but not limited to estimated timeframes for recovery following a procedure, time required for the procedure, timeframes for weight loss and/or estimated total weight loss are general in nature and your experience, outcomes and results may vary.
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