Gastric Sleeve

Details and facts on gastric sleeve surgery procedure and benefits.

Gastric Sleeve Surgery is a form of weight loss surgery which decreases the size of the stomach. Gastric sleeve surgery is also known as gastric sleeve resection or vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG). Originally devised by Dr Johnston of England, the procedure has been further developed and enhanced. Though gastric sleeve surgery is gaining popularity in the United States and parts of Europe, there are few gastric sleeve surgeons worldwide. To date, gastric sleeve doctors numbered less than twenty.

The gastric sleeve procedure involves reducing the size of the stomach pouch. It is usually performed as a laproscopic or key hole surgery. The gastric sleeve operation involves removing 60-80 percent of the stomach leaving behind a small tube or the `sleeve`. Such a procedure would remove the part of the stomach which produces gherlin, a hormone that stimulates hunger. The feelings of hunger and food craving are thus minimized, resulting in weight loss.

Gastric sleeve surgery differs from gastric bypass or duodenal switch surgery. The gastric sleeve process is a less complicated operation when compared with other bariatric procedures. The operated portion of the stomach is permanently removed from the body; thus gastric sleeve surgery is irreversible. No foreign devices are introduced into the body, as with gastric band surgery. Furthermore, digestion proceeds normally, and malabsorption, which could cause nutritional deficiency, does not occur.

Gastric sleeve weight loss results are encouraging for patients with low BMIs (Body Mass Index) of 35 to 45. Patients have recorded weight losses up to 60 percent within the first year. Nevertheless, any weight loss program requires continuous maintenance. It is therefore, imperative to adopt a healthy lifestyle with proper diet and regular exercises.