Do you feel like you're too fat? Haven't you done anything to lose weight? Have you tried dieting and exercising, but haven't you seen the results you're looking for? Sometimes, being overweight is not just a cosmetic problem, but also a risk factor for serious illnesses like diabetes and high blood pressure. In such cases, the only solution available in medical science is the 'Gastric Sleeve' surgery we're talking about today.
Simply put, what is Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
This is also a type of weight loss surgery. Doctors call it ``bariatric surgery.'' This surgery involves cutting out your stomach, the pouch that holds food in your intestines. Think of your stomach as a small balloon. This surgery involves cutting out about 80% of that balloon and removing it .
Then all that's left is a small, tube-like stomach, shaped like a banana. The word 'gastrectomy' literally means 'removing part of the stomach.' After this, your stomach becomes much smaller.
How does this surgery help you lose weight?
There are two ways this works.
1. Limiting the amount of food you eat: When your stomach is small, the amount of food you can eat at one time is greatly reduced. Even if you eat a little, you still feel full. It's like eating from a small cup instead of a large plate.
2. Hunger control: This is the most important thing. Our hunger and cravings are caused by certain hormones produced by the stomach. When a large part of the stomach is removed, the production of these hunger-inducing hormones is greatly reduced . Therefore, things like the urge to eat and the urge to eat are controlled. This is a big help in not gaining weight again after losing weight.
Gastric Sleeve Surgery is the most commonly performed weight loss surgery in the world. However, only about 1% of those who could benefit from it actually undergo the surgery.
Who is eligible to have this surgery?
This is not a surgery that everyone can have. To qualify for this, you usually need to meet these criteria. Your doctor will explain this to you in more detail.
| Eligibility | Simply explained |
|---|---|
| Severe Obesity | There is an index that calculates your weight for your height (BMI - Body Mass Index) . If your BMI is over 40, or over 35 and you have other diseases caused by obesity (such as diabetes and high blood pressure), you may fall into this category. |
| Other methods fail | Before surgery, you should have tried other methods of losing weight (diet, exercise). You may also need to undergo a medically supervised weight loss program for 3-6 months. |
| Mental and physical preparation | This is a major surgery. It also requires lifelong dietary changes. So a team of doctors, nutritionists, and psychologists will assess you to make sure you are physically and mentally ready for this. |
What diseases can be cured with this surgery?
This surgery can control, and sometimes even completely cure, many diseases caused by obesity.
- Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes
- Hypertension and related heart diseases
- High blood cholesterol (Hyperlipidemia) and arterial disease
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Joint pain and arthritis (Osteoarthritis)
How does the surgery process happen?
This is something that happens in a few steps.
Before surgery
Once you are determined to be a good candidate for surgery, you will be put on a liquid diet for about two weeks before the operation. This is to help reduce the amount of fat in your abdomen and liver and make the surgery safer. You will need to stop eating or drinking completely 12 hours before the operation.
During surgery
This surgery is often performed as a "keyhole surgery" (laparoscopic surgery). This means that instead of making a large incision in the abdomen, it is performed through a few small incisions and a camera and delicate instruments are inserted.
1. First, you will be completely anesthetized (you will be asleep).
2. The surgeon makes a small incision in your stomach and inflates your abdomen by injecting gas through it.
3. Then a camera is inserted and the organs inside are viewed on a monitor.
4. Instruments are inserted through several more small holes, the portion of the stomach to be saved is measured, the remaining 80% is cut out with a device such as a surgical stapler, and removed from the body .
5. Finally, sew the small holes closed.
This entire surgery usually takes about an hour and a half .
After the surgery
You will be in the hospital for one or two days after the surgery. For the first few weeks, you will only be able to eat liquid foods. After that, you can gradually switch to a soft diet, and after a few months, you can switch to regular solid foods. However, you will need to take vitamins and nutritional supplements for the rest of your life , because you will be eating less and need to make sure that your body is getting the nutrients it needs.
What are the benefits and potential risks?
Like any surgery, there are some risks, but the risks of living with obesity are much greater.
| Advantages | Risks & Complications |
|---|---|
| Complications occur in less than 1%.
|
How much weight can you lose?
Typically, you can lose between 25% and 30% of your total body weight within the first year or two. Let's say you weigh 120 kilos. That would be about 30-36 kilos. This depends on the lifestyle you follow after the surgery.
The most important thing is that this surgery is not magic. It is just a powerful tool that you have. To achieve successful results, you must commit to a healthy diet and an active lifestyle for the rest of your life.
Sometimes, a very small number of people may gain weight back over time. If this happens, you can talk to your doctor about it and switch to another treatment if necessary.
Take-Home Message
- Gastric Sleeve Surgery is a surgery that removes about 80% of your stomach, reducing your food intake and appetite.
- This is done for people who are severely obese and have related diseases and who have been unable to lose weight through other methods.
- Because this is done through a keyhole procedure, it can heal quickly and the risk is very low.
- To get good results after surgery, you need to change your diet and lifestyle for life.
- If you have any further questions about this, don't hesitate to talk to your doctor and find out all the details.
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