Sleeve Gastrectomy

About This Service

Bariatric surgery is a treatment option for people living with morbid obesity-especially for those who have not experienced long-term weight loss success through other means. Often referred to as weight loss surgery, bariatric surgery has transformed the health and lives of more than 800,000 people in the past six years.

How Does Bariatric Surgery Work?
Bariatric surgery is the clinical term for several different procedures. The procedures use one or both of two approaches to help patients lose weight and improve or resolve co-morbid conditions.

Sleeve Gastrectomy

Sleeve gastrectomy is a restrictive bariatric surgery. During this procedure, the surgeon creates a small, sleeve-shaped stomach. It is slightly larger than the stomach pouch created during Roux-en-Y bypass-and is about the size of a small banana.

Sleeve gastrectomy is typically considered as a treatment option for bariatric surgery patients with a BMI of 40 or higher or those with a BMI of 35 or higher with comorbidities. 

To learn more about sleeve gastrectomy, visit the website of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and review the ASMBS Position Statement on Sleeve Gastrectomy As a Bariatric Procedure. 

Life After Sleeve Gastrectomy

Excess Weight Loss
Patients typically lost 66 percent of their excess weight in the first year.

Health Benefits
Studies found that patients:

• Resolved or improved type 2 diabetes in 86 percent of patients
• Resolved or improved high blood pressure in 79 percent of patients
• Resolved or improved high cholesterol in 79 percent of patients
• Resolved or improved obstructive sleep apnea in 86 percent of patients

Quality of Life
One meta-analysis stated that for bariatric surgery patients who experienced significant weight loss:

• Overall quality of life improved greatly
• They experienced improved appearance and physical functioning
• They experienced improved social and economic opportunities

Potential Concerns

• Abdominal bloating and foul-smelling stool or gas may occur.
• Patients also need to supplement with daily multivitamins and calcium and may be prescribed vitamin B12 and iron by their healthcare professional.

There are benefits and risks with a sleeve gastrectomy. Discuss your bariatric surgery options with a bariatric surgeon in your area.