Sleeve surgery is a surgical procedure performed to induce weight loss. It is done by reducing the size of the stomach by about 75%, leaving a stomach sleeve which is about 25% of its previous size.

stomach bypass surgery

Sleeve Surgery: Who Needs It?

A vertical sleeve gastrectomy surgery is usually the first part of a two-stage procedure done to individuals who are extremely overweight—obese individuals who have a body mass index of 40 or more. Such individuals do not pass the gastric bypass requirements or the duodenal switch requirements, thus they are required to undergo the sleeve surgery first, before undergoing a stomach bypass surgery.

A vertical gastric sleeve surgery is also suitable for individuals who are obese but not extremely obese. Of course, for such individuals a sleeve gastrectomy alone is enough.

Advantages of the Sleeve Surgery

The sleeve surgery has its advantages over other gastrectomy procedures.

One advantage is that it only reduces the capacity of the stomach but retains its normal functions. Therefore, most food items can be tolerated, in small quantities of course. The ghrelin is also removed in this procedure; the ghrelin is the part of the stomach which releases the hormones that stimulate hunger.

The pylorus is also preserved thus dumping syndrome is minimized if not totally avoided. Dumping syndrome is a condition where ingested foods quickly pass through the stomach. Since the foods pass the stomach rapidly, most of them enter the small intestine undigested. This usually happens to individuals who have undergone other kinds of gastrectomy.

The surgery also nearly eliminates the chances of an intestinal obstruction since the intestinal bypass is avoided. Chances of having marginal ulcers, osteoporosis, protein and vitamin deficiency, and anemia are also lessened. Because of these, the sleeve surgery is a great weight loss option for patients who have conditions which makes it too risky for them to undergo intestinal bypass surgeries.

The risk of infection is also reduced since the procedure is commonly done using laparoscopic techniques. Plus, it doesn’t require leaving foreign objects inside the body such as a stomach band; thus, reducing the danger of certain complications.

If you are suffering from obesity, stomach bypass surgery is an option you might want to look into.

Before you launch into any weight loss regime or surgery, make sure you find out everything you need to know or else it can be long, painful and expensive. Don't jump into it before visiting stomach bypass surgery. It's the number one resource on the internet.