Effectiveness Of Gastric Sleeve Surgery For Weight Loss

By Estelle Larsen


A lot of health problems in terms of weight can be solved in a few ways through surgery. Overweight and obesity can be surgically treated that is different from cosmetic procedure. There are two known types which are Restrictive and Malabsorptive Surgeries. Restrictive type takes away a portion of the stomach so it can hold lesser amount of food for quicker digestion. Malabsorptive type tends to create a bypass within the digestive tract, either the stomach or gastric tract, so it would not take in calories.

The malabsorptive is no longer a stand alone surgery due to the complications of its side effects. Gastric sleeve surgery in Mexico would cost at a starting price of four thousand and six hundred dollars compared to in the United States which has a range of about fifteen thousand to twenty five thousand dollars. This type can most likely be stand alone as well.

Laparoscopic Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy is the full terminology. It removes eighty five percent of stomach leaving only a tube or small sleeve. The stomach can originally hold 3 pints or so of food, but after surgery it can only take just a couple of ounces. Although it will increase slowly and stretch after a few weeks and months.

Several small incisions are made on the abdomen. This is called an open procedure and small instruments as well as a camera is slid inside the cuts. It is a laparoscopic procedure since a camera is used as visual guide for the duration of the operation.

Having this approach is a huge step for treatment in obesity. This should be considered when the methods for medicine, exercise, and diet have no effect on the patient anymore. This surgery type is actually part of an overall procedure called the duodenal switch. Is is later on included as part of the gastric bypass procedure. The bypass is no longer done in a stand alone process due to a lot of risks and complications.

This takes about one and a half hours. The patient needs to stay in for two to three nights for recovery. The healing process is surprisingly fast and most patients are able to go back to their normal activities after three weeks.

A few complications may arise. Infection, blood clots, appetite loss, sleeve leaking, nausea, stomach pains due to esophageal spasms, and vomiting are what would likely to happen. Diarrhea is also possible due to dumping syndrome which dumps the food too quick towards the small intestines.

You will be guided by your doctor for a few months in terms of recovery and diet. During the first month, your stomach can only handle liquids and soft food for the healing process. It is essential to be constantly hydrated for the entire day. Bowel movements tend to become less often as well but this is normal after the surgery. Also, make sure to avoid constipation.

The recorded success rate on the weight loss of most patients is about sixty six percent. That is more than half of their initial weight compared to the loss of other procedures which goes from forty one to sixty two percent. It is important to follow the instructions of the doctor as well to maintain safety of recovery. A realistic approach and added methods for weight loss would definitely help as well.




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