Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Am I eligible for the gastric sleeve?
In order for you to be qualified for a gastric sleeve, you must have a BMI of 35 or above.
How Long Is Gastric Sleeve Surgery
The surgery usually lasts for 60-90 minutes. In most cases, 4 or 5 small horizontal incisions will be made on the tummy via which the instruments are inserted. The incisions made will leave behind small scars which are usually not more than 5mm long.
After the surgery, you will stay in the hospital overnight. You will be discharged home and advised to rest for at least 7 days in order for your body to fully recover.
How much weight will I lose with the gastric sleeve?
The main reason for choosing a gastric sleeve for the majority of patients is to lose excess weight. The procedure is an effective one. Studies have shown that an average excess weight loss of 60%-70% over a period of 2 years is achieved amongst patients that undergo this surgery.
The most appealing aspect is that the weight loss usually occurs rapidly, as the procedure curbs and alters appetite.
In order for you to maintain the weight loss results for a longer term, you must make significant changes to your diet and routine exercises.
What are the benefits of Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
Raised Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
Up to 90% of patients suffering from Hypertension can expect to stop dependency on blood pressure medication.
Sleep Apnoea
A significant improvement in sleep patterns is also another benefit of this surgery. Patients who may be suffering from sleep Apnoea experience better sleep patterns and also fatigue reduction. Over 85% of patients who use a CPAP machine will be able to stop permanently.
Infertility and PCOS
A furthers benefit of gastric sleeve surgery is the improvement of fertility during the childbearing years. Over 90% of sleeve surgery patients experienced improvements in their hormones and fertility. A study reported that the risk of miscarriage may decline after sleeve surgery and can also enhance menstruation in women.
Back Pain and Arthritis
Being overweight mounts a lot of pressure and strain on your joints, often resulting in chronic pain and damage. Sleeve surgery can help relieve most of this pain by reducing the stress on the joints and often allows people to stop reliance on pain medications. Studies have shown that patients who are suffering from back pain and who have undergone sleeve surgery begun to experience increased mobility.
Mental Wellbeing
It is not uncommon for patients that have been struggling with mental health issues such as depression, because of excess weight and poor body image to report improvements in their overall mental health. Studies have shown that sleeve patients had a 32% decrease in depression rate at the period of surgery and a further 16% decrease 6-12 months post-surgery.
Our attention to mental health is at an optimum level in our pre-operative assessment processes. Our pre-operative examination is designed to make ensure our weight loss surgery patients enjoy long-term mental wellness.
Alleviation of other medical conditions
o Reports confirm 85% of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) experience significant health improvements after gastric sleeve surgery.
Gastric sleeve surgery also leads to the enhancement of various clinical markers. The surgical procedure induces a significant regulatory impact on hematological, inflammatory and biochemical markers.
What are the risks of gastric sleeve surgery?
Gastric sleeve surgery is predominately a safe procedure, however as surgery occurs, there is always the risk of post-surgical complications. With experienced surgeons, the procedure runs smoothly with reduced risks. Unlike other weight loss surgery, gastric sleeve surgery poses no relative complexity as it doesn’t require any form of bowel incisions or organ joining.
However, you may have been predisposed to certain other risks due to your health. As such, we advise that you consult with your health care team about any health issues prior to the surgery.
Risks of gastric sleeve include:
Hemorrhage (bleeding)
Leakages from staple lines resulting in infection
Adverse reactions to anesthesia (sedatives) and/or medication
Formation of blood clots (Deep vein thrombosis in the legs / Pulmonary embolus on the lungs)
Longer-term, possible nutritional deficiency
Marginal ulcer
Narrowing of the stomach wall
Aftercare
Aftercare post-surgery is paramount to overall recovery. This is often disregarded when it comes to gastric sleeve surgery. The majority of patients experienced remarkable weight loss within the first two years, although after a few years weight gain re-merges.
Most certainly this can be controlled by maintaining proper dieting and regular exercising in the first few years after surgery. This is included in our packages for all patients.
Is the gastric sleeve safe?
The safety of gastric sleeve surgery is mostly dependent on the specialist bariatric surgeon, the surgical team and aftercare support. Definitely, there still are associated risks and a gastric sleeve is a more invasive surgical procedure, however this is discussed and mediated during consult and pre op.
Gastric sleeve surgery is a safe and effective procedure when delivered by an experienced team.
Will I have loose skin after gastric sleeve?
As a result of the significant weight loss experienced by gastric sleeve patients, you may experience some excessive, loose, or saggy skin. This is most commonly observed in the abdominal region. The amount of excess skin you’ll have after a gastric sleeve surgery depends on your age bracket and weight prior to the procedure. Overall, the weightier and older you are, the higher your chances of having excess skin. For younger patients, there is a tendency not to have much slack skin because of the possession of more natural skin elasticity.
How much weight will I lose with a gastric sleeve?
Weight loss expectancy for gastric sleeve patients is approximately 60%-70% of their excess weight during the first two years, however, a higher percentage of the weight is reduced during the first year. In most cases, this may vary depending on individuality.
How long does it take to recover from a gastric sleeve?
Recovery for most gastric sleeve patients includes a hospital stay for a night or two before returning home. You should gradually start to regain yourself in about 2 weeks post-surgery, although it usually requires 6-8 weeks for your stomach to fully heal.
What can you eat with a gastric sleeve?
Most foods can be consumed, as long as they don’t cause you any form of discomfort. But due to the fact that you will be eating less, it is vital that you include in your diet, foods that are protein-rich, and low in fat and sugar supplements. We advise that you eat lots of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and fish.
Following your gastric sleeve surgery, you’ll be given specified nutritional information.
Join our private Facebook group "Support for weight loss group" where you can learn more about others' experiences with Cosmedicare and stay in touch with us as well.
