Is Gastric Sleeve Right for You?

Is Gastric Sleeve Right for You? You may be a candidate for stomach reduction surgery if:

  • You are an obese adult, especially if you have a weight-related disorder such as Type 2 diabetes.
  • You are aware of the risks and side effects.
  • You are ready to change your diet after the operation.
  • You are determined to make lifestyle changes to reduce weight.

Teenagers usually don’t get stomach reductions unless they’re extremely obese, with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 32, and with a weight-related disorder.

If you are thinking about it, speak to your doctor about whether it is a good option for you.

4 types of stomach reduction

When you undergo a stomach reduction surgery, your surgeon will make changes to your stomach or small
intestine, or even both. Here are the four methods surgeons typically use:

Gastric bypass: Your doctor calls this “Roux-en-Y” gastric bypass or RYGB. The surgeon leaves only a very small part of the stomach (called the pouch). This bag can’t hold a lot of food, so eat less. The food you eat bypasses
the rest of your stomach and goes straight from the pouch into your small intestine. This surgery can often be done
through several small incisions with a camera to see the inside (laparoscope). Doctors can also perform a mini-gastric bypass, which is a similar procedure that is also performed with a laparoscope.

Adjustable gastric band: The surgeon places a small band around the top of the stomach. The band has a small balloon inside that controls how tight or slack the band is. The band limits how much food can get into the stomach. This operation is performed with a laparoscope.

Sleeve stomach: This surgery removes most of the stomach, leaving only a narrow section of the upper part
of the stomach called the gastric sleeve. The surgery can also reduce the hunger hormone ghrelin so you eat less.

Duodenal Switch: This is a complicated operation that removes most of the stomach and bypasses most of the small intestine using a stomach sleeve. It limits how much you can eat. It also means your body isn’t getting as much opportunity to get nutrients from your food. Which could mean you’re not getting enough of the vitamins and minerals it needs.

With any type of stomach reduction surgery, you still need to focus on eating healthy and leading a more active lifestyle.

Benefits of stomach reduction | Is Gastric Sleeve Right for You?

Most people lose weight for 18-24 months after having stomach reduction surgery.

If you’ve had any obesity-related complaints, they will usually improve after a stomach reduction. Some diseases, such as Diabetes, can improve quickly. Others, e.g. High blood pressure, may take a little longer.

Risks and Side Effects

The most common side effects include nausea, vomiting, gas, diarrhea, excessive sweating, and increased dizziness.

Serious side effects can include bleeding, infection, leaks where your stitches are, and blood clots in the legs that
can affect the heart and lungs. However, such cases do not occur at all.

Long-term problems after a stomach reduction operation depend on the type of surgery you have had. One of the most common problems, especially with gastric bypasses, is “dumping syndrome,”. In which food moves too quickly through the small intestine. Symptoms include nausea, weakness, sweating, fainting, and diarrhea after eating. And the fact that you cannot eat sweets without feeling very weak. It can affect up to 50% of people who have had a stomach reduction. But avoiding high-sugar foods and replacing them with high-fiber foods can help prevent
this from happening.

Gallstones can form when you lose a lot of weight quickly. To prevent this, your doctor may recommend that
you take extra bile salts for the first 6 months after the operation.

You need to make sure you are getting enough nutrients too. Especially if surgery made it harder for your body
to get nutrients from food.

Because rapid weight loss and nutritional deficiencies can harm a developing baby. Doctors advise women
of childbearing potential who wish to undergo stomach surgery. To avoid pregnancy until their weight stabilizes.