How Gastric Sleeve Surgery Can Help Patients Lose Weight

Patients who are classified as morbidly obese are often advised by doctors to undergo surgery to lose weight. One surgical option is the creation of a gastric sleeve to reduce the stomach's volume and encourage lighter eating. 

How the Gastric Sleeve Procedure Is Performed

After the patient has been given general anesthesia to sleep throughout the surgery, the gastric sleeve procedure can be completed with laparoscopic surgery. A flexible endoscope known as a laparoscope is inserted into a patient's abdomen through a small incision or a series of small cuts to provide imagery that allows the surgeon to operate safely and correctly. A tube is then inserted into a section of the stomach before the stomach is divided into two separate parts to reduce its size. The tube is left in the remaining part of the stomach to create a smaller, banana-shaped stomach. After the new stomach has been created, the tube is removed. This smaller stomach will be able to hold less food and can help the patient lose weight easier.

A Smaller Appetite

Most patients who undergo gastric sleeve surgery notice a remarkable decrease in their appetites, which is one of the main reasons why they are able to lose weight so effectively. This can help curb food cravings and encourage less eating. Since the stomach is not able to hold as much food as it once did, people will not feel as inclined to overeat and indulge in unhealthy foods.

Faster Digestion

Food can also be digested faster thanks to the stomach's smaller size. This can help reduce calorie absorption by the body and combat weight gain. Even with the faster digestion, most patients report feeling fuller for longer periods after receiving the gastric sleeve.

Treats Other Health Conditions

Other health conditions often arise from obesity, and losing weight after undergoing a gastric sleeve procedure may help reverse or at least slow the progress of some of these conditions. Gastric sleeve surgery is often effective in treating conditions related to obesity, such as:

  • High blood pressure
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Excessive bone and joint strain
  • Breathing difficulties (asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, etc.)

No Foreign Objects Remain Inside the Body

Implanting a gastric band or another object inside the body to facilitate weight loss may impose certain risks. Some people experience serious reactions from having foreign devices put into their bodies, and no objects will be left inside the body permanently if the gastric sleeve procedure is performed instead.

Gastric sleeve surgery may be the best alternative to losing weight if dieting, exercising, and other conventional weight-loss methods aren't enough. A medical center that offers the gastric sleeve procedure can perform the surgery in a safe setting.

For more information about gastric sleeve surgery, talk to your doctor.


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