Are you also someone who suffers from a lot of discomfort and various diseases due to being overweight? Maybe you have been exercising and controlling your diet and are now tired. If so, it will be very important for you to know about this Gastric Sleeve Surgery that we are talking about today. This is a successful surgery that is widely used all over the world as a treatment for obesity. Let's see what it is and how it works.
Simply put, what is gastric sleeve surgery?
Gastric sleeve surgery, or in medical terms, sleeve gastrectomy, is a type of bariatric surgery for weight loss. What happens here is very simple. The surgeon removes a very large portion of your stomach (the part of your stomach that is in your intestines), about 80%.
Imagine, your stomach is like a little bag. After this surgery, only a small part of that bag is left. The remaining part is shaped like a banana, like a thin tube. A "sleeve" is something like an arm. So this is called a "gastric sleeve" because the stomach is left like a thin arm.
There are two reasons why this surgery can cause weight loss.
You might be wondering how this helps you lose weight. There are two main reasons.
1. Smaller stomach: Now your stomach is much smaller. So the amount of food you can eat at one time is much less. You can't eat a big plate of rice like before. You feel full even after eating a little. Because of this, the amount of calories you consume per day naturally decreases.
2. Hormonal changes: This is the most important thing. What makes us hungry and crave food is a type of hormone. These hormones are mostly produced in the large part of the stomach that we remove during surgery. So when that part is removed, the production of hormones that cause hunger is also greatly reduced. Therefore, things like the urge to eat for no reason, the excessive desire to eat are controlled. This is also a great help in maintaining that weight after losing weight.
Although this surgery is the most commonly performed weight loss surgery in the world, only a small percentage of those who can benefit from it and qualify actually undergo the surgery.
Who is this surgery really suitable for?
This is not a surgery that everyone can do. You need to meet certain qualifications for this. Doctors make this decision after carefully examining your health condition.
| Eligibility | Description |
|---|---|
| Severe Obesity | Your body mass index (BMI) must be 40 or higher. Or, you must have a BMI of 35 or higher and have an obesity-related condition such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or cholesterol. |
| Other methods fail | Before surgery, you should have tried to lose weight through exercise and diet. Some insurance companies require you to engage in a medically supervised weight loss program for 3-6 months before approving the surgery. |
| Physical and mental preparation | This is a major surgery. It also requires lifelong dietary changes. So a team of nutritionists, psychologists, and other medical specialists will assess you to make sure you are physically and mentally ready for this. |
Other diseases treated with gastric sleeve surgery
Although the main goal of this surgery is weight loss, it can also control, and sometimes completely cure, a number of other dangerous diseases caused by excess weight.
- Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance
- High blood pressure (Hypertension) and related heart diseases
- High blood cholesterol (Hyperlipidemia) and arterial diseases
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease)
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Joint pain and knee pain (Osteoarthritis)
How is the surgery done?
Now let's see how this surgery is done. Don't worry, this is often done using laparoscopic surgery . That means they don't cut the abdomen open like they used to. Instead, they make 3-4 very small holes in the abdomen and insert a camera and surgical instruments through them. This is also called "keyhole surgery." This results in less pain and a faster recovery time.
What happens during the surgery:
1. First, you will be fully anesthetized. This means that you will not feel anything until the surgery is over, and you will be completely asleep.
2. The surgeon will make a small incision, about half an inch in size, in your abdomen and insert a small tube through it.
3. A small amount of carbon dioxide gas is injected through the tube to inflate the abdomen. This allows the organs inside to be clearly seen, allowing for surgery.
4. Then a camera called a laparoscope is inserted. The images from it are shown on a large screen.
5. Surgical instruments are inserted through other small holes, and about 80% of the stomach is separated and removed using a special surgical stapler.
6. The last part of the stomach that was removed is taken out and the small holes that were made are sewn up.
The entire surgery usually takes about an hour or an hour and a half . You will need to stay in the hospital for a day or two after the surgery. This will help manage the pain and monitor your condition.
How is life after the surgery?
Your life will change a lot after surgery, especially your eating habits.
- Food in the first few weeks: In the early stages, you will only need to eat liquids. Then, gradually, you will be introduced to semi-liquid foods like soup, and then to soft, mashed foods. It will take a few months before you can start eating regular solid foods.
- Vitamins and nutritional supplements: Since the amount of food you eat is very small, your body may not be getting enough nutrients. Therefore, you will need to take vitamin and mineral supplements recommended by your doctor throughout your life .
- Medical checkups: After surgery, you will need to see your doctor at regular intervals to check your weight loss, health, and nutritional levels.
What are the benefits and risks?
Like any surgery, this one has its benefits and some minor risks. But remember, the risks of living with obesity far outweigh the risks of this surgery.
| Advantages | Risks & Complications |
|---|---|
| Simpler, quicker, and safer than other weight loss surgeries. | Short-term risks (very low, less than 1%):Bleeding, infections, reactions to anesthesia, leakage from the stapler line. |
| Because it does not alter the intestines, the likelihood of long-term nutritional problems is low. | Long-term complications: nutritional deficiencies (vitamin intake is essential), worsening or new onset of gastroesophageal reflux, gallstones (can occur with rapid weight loss). |
| Provides excellent weight loss and health benefits. | Scar tissue can cause the stomach to narrow and obstruct the passage of food (vomiting and nausea may occur). |
How much weight will be lost?
Typically, you can lose between 25% and 30% of your total body weight within the first year or two after surgery. Let's say you weigh 120 kilos. Then you can lose about 30-36 kilos. But this depends on the lifestyle you follow after surgery. Some people lose even more weight.
This is an irreversible surgery. So if you decide to have it, you need to be prepared to make a lifelong commitment to changing your diet and lifestyle. But if you are ready to make that commitment, this surgery will open up a new path to a healthy life.
Take-Home Message
- Gastric sleeve surgery is a very effective and safe treatment for severe obesity.
- This not only makes the stomach smaller, but also reduces the levels of hormones that cause hunger.
- This is not suitable for everyone. Eligibility is determined based on your BMI and other health conditions.
- After surgery, you will need to adapt to a new diet and lifestyle for the rest of your life. Taking vitamin supplements is a must.
- The best way to find out whether this surgery is right for you is to talk openly about it with your doctor or therapist .
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