What is gastric sleeve surgery?
Gastric sleeve surgery (also known as sleeve gastrectomy) is a surgical procedure that involves removing part of your stomach. This surgery is commonly used for weight loss after non-surgical attempts to lose weight have not been successful. Gastric sleeve surgery has been performed in Australia for over a decade. It is usually performed laparoscopically (keyhole surgery). Gastric sleeve surgery is a permanent procedure and usually leads to rapid weight loss within a 12-month timeframe.
Should I consider gastric sleeve surgery?
Gastric sleeve surgery can be a good option for people who struggle to lose large amounts of weight. The procedure is only recommended for patients who have already tried non-surgical alternatives such as diet and exercise.
Gastric sleeve surgery can help reduce a range of health problems that are traditionally associated with obesity such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnoea, and heart issues. Talk to your doctor today about whether gastric sleeve surgery is right for you.
What happens in gastric sleeve surgery?
Gastric sleeve surgery is performed under a general anaesthetic. During the procedure, your surgeon will use a stapling device to make a new ‘sleeve’ shaped stomach. He or she will then remove the rest of your stomach.
Gastric sleeve surgery is performed via a laparoscope, which means that it is minimally invasive. The surgery takes 45 minutes to one hour to perform. After surgery you will probably need to stay in hospital for 2-3 nights.
What is the cost of gastric sleeve surgery?
Gastric sleeve surgery is performed in both public and private hospitals. If you choose to have your procedure in a private hospital, a portion of the cost may be covered by your private health insurance. It’s a good idea to discuss this with your insurance provider.
Please contact the Sydney GI Surgery team to discuss your needs and for an accurate assessment of the cost involved.
What are the risks of gastric sleeve surgery?
Gastric sleeve surgery is major surgery and comes with some risks. These are:
- Port site hernia
- Internal bleeding or bleeding of the wound
- Leak
- Malnutrition
- Organ injury
- Deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism
- Vitamin or iron deficiency
Recovery from gastric sleeve surgery
After surgery, your stomach will hold a smaller amount than it did before. After surgery you’ll probably need to stick to liquid foods to begin with. From there you will progress to pureed food and then solid food. Your meals will need to be much smaller, as your stomach can now only hold a fraction of what it did before.
You will also need to make several lifestyle changes. As part of your recovery process, you will need to talk to a dietician about how to change your eating habits. This will help you to stay healthy while you are losing weight. You may also need to take vitamins and other supplements as part of your daily routine.
Patients who undergo gastric sleeve surgery lose weight quickly. Most patients loose at least 30% of their weight within 12 months. Your surgeon will talk to you about your specific situation and what results you can expect.
