Gastric Sleeve Procedures

The United States is facing an obesity epidemic. According to the National Institutes of Health, an estimated 133.6 million Americans are either overweight or obese. For the vast majority of people, a combination of dieting or exercise is the main course of action that is both recommended and undertaken. However, for many severely obese people, a surgical option may be necessary to aid them in their weight loss. One of the most popular types of bariatric surgery is called the gastric sleeve procedure.

Pre-surgery requirements

• According to YourBariatricSurgeryGuide.com, as you may be considering whether this procedure is right for you, the best thing to do is to consult with a doctor. If approved for the surgery, based on your overall health and current weight, following a doctor's instructions are important. If a person happens to be a smoker, it is mandatory to quit due to the increased risk of blood clots and other complications. Most doctors will also require patients to be on a specific diet in the weeks leading up to the procedure.

How the procedure works

• The gastric sleeve procedure involves a surgeon removing more than half of a patient's stomach, which results in the stomach taking the shape of a sleeve, according to Columbia University. The portions of the stomach are removed through small incisions over the period of roughly two hours. A patient's "new" stomach is held together by staples. After six to 18 months, a second procedure is required to finalize the weight loss process. The most widely used one is gastric bypass surgery, which is done after the patient loses a considerable amount of weight with the gastric sleeve procedure.

Post-surgery requirements

• The University of California at San Diego states that after the surgery is completed in roughly two hours, a patient will have to remain in the hospital for a day or two. The patient will need several weeks to recover from the procedure, during which the stomach will be sore and swollen. A gradual reintroduction to solid foods takes place over the course of a month, during which a liquid diet and a semi-solid diet is given to a patient. In order to maximize success, a patient is encouraged to exercise regularly and to maintain a healthy diet to achieve weight loss.

Benefits

• The main goal of the gastric sleeve procedure is to lose weight, which occurs after the surgery is performed and the instructions for maximizing success are followed post-operation. Experts state that the patient will lose between 30 percent and 50 percent of the excess weight over the course of six months to a year, claims Columbia University. As the weight comes off, the quality of life will improve and weight-related ailments--such as diabetes and sleep apnea--can be vastly improved or eliminated.

Considerations

• Weigh loss surgery, including the gastric sleeve procedure, is not for all overweight patients. In order to be considered, an individual needs to have a Body Mass Index greater than 60 and be able to sustain a surgical operation, the University of California at San Diego says. The cost of the procedure, while it can vary, is typically greater than $10,000, and a second procedure will be required further down the road to complete the weight loss process. Before undergoing bariatric surgery, it is important to consider all of the options and to prepare oneself for the rigors of such a procedure.