Risks And Effects Of Gastric Sleeve Surgery For Weight Loss

By Estelle Larsen


Certain health problems have many ways to be treated. In terms of overweight and obesity, there are two types of weight loss surgeries. Restrictive surgeries cut down the size of the stomach so it slows down the digestion. The stomach would then hold just a few ounces of food from normally being able to hold three pints. Malabsorptive surgeries bypass part of a digestive tract, commonly the stomach or gastric tract, so it does not absorb calories.

Malabsorptive surgery has a lot of complications when done as a stand alone procedure. The cost for a gastric sleeve surgery in Mexico starts at forty six hundred dollars while in the United States it would be around fifteen thousand to around twenty five thousand dollars. This can be a stand alone procedure.

This is fully known as Laparoscopic Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy is a type of restrictive surgery. It removes about eighty five percent of the stomach. This in turn would make the stomach smaller where it would look like a tube instead, hence why it is called a sleeve.

A small incision is made in the abdomen which is an open procedure. It is done by making few small incisions and utilizing small instruments. It is called laparoscopic because a small camera would be slid inside as guide.

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.

The entire surgery lasts about one to two hours. Also, the patient has to remain in the hospital for a few more nights for monitoring. Overall healing process can last a month or three weeks. Some of the patients were able to heal that fast and has gone back to their daily activities by that time.

There are a few complications that are possible to happen. Sleeve leaking, blood clots, infection, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and esophageal spasm or stomach pains. Diarrhea may also happen due to the dumping syndrome or where food goes to the small intestines too quickly, making it difficult for the body to absorb nutrients.

For the duration of a month or two, your doctor will guide you in your recovery. In the first month of the healing process, your stomach can handle only liquids or soft food. Make sure to be always hydrated for the duration of the day, so drink water regularly. The bowel movements would most likely be less often but this is common during the healing process. Be sure not to be constipated as well.

The success rate in weight loss can go more than half of the excess weight of the patient which is about sixty six percent. You can compare this to other bariatric procedures which is about sixty two to forty one percent. Making sure to follow the guidelines from the doctor and a realistic approach with the weight loss could help a lot. As well as being physically active and having a healthy lifestyle.




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