Gastric sleeve surgery, also known as sleeve gastrectomy, is a type of bariatric surgery that involves removing a portion of the stomach and leaving behind a smaller, sleeve-shaped section. This reduces the size of the stomach, which can help in managing food intake. A healthcare professional may recommend gastric sleeve surgery for those looking to restrict calorie intake because of underlying health conditions or for the prevention of lifestyle diseases.

Gastric sleeve surgery procedure
Also known as sleeve gastrectomy, gastric sleeve surgery is typically performed using a laparoscopic procedure or robotic surgery. This method generally does not require a surgeon to make a large incision or cut through the abdominal cavity to access the organs. Instead, the procedure involves making small incisions. As a result, the recovery process becomes quicker and easier. That being said, in some cases, open surgery is preferable, depending on one’s condition.

In either case, whether it is an open surgery or a laparoscopic one, the procedure is done under general anesthesia. After administering anesthesia, the surgeon makes a half-inch-long incision in the abdomen. Then, a port is inserted through this incision to pump carbon dioxide gas to expand the stomach. Once this is done, a laparoscopy or small video camera with a light is inserted through the port. The camera allows the surgeon to view the interior of the stomach on a screen.

Following this, one to three extra incisions are made to insert more ports. The procedure completely uses long and narrow tools inserted through these additional ports.

Finally, the gastric sleeve is measured, and the remainder of the stomach is divided and separated from the sleeve with the help of a surgical stapler. Once the remaining part of the stomach is removed, the incisions are closed.

Duration of gastric sleeve surgery
Compared to other types of bariatric surgery, a gastric sleeve procedure is usually a simple operation that does not take much time. A typical procedure requires about 60 to 90 minutes. Following the surgery, a surgeon might require one to recuperate in the hospital overnight or for a few days. This is usually suggested for better pain management and monitoring of side effects post-surgery.

Benefits of gastric sleeve procedure

1. Is an effective way to manage calorie intake
Often, those with underlying health conditions and lifestyle diseases have high cholesterol and glucose levels. These levels usually need to be controlled by managing calorie intake. When it is not possible to do this through meal planning and the health condition is too severe, healthcare providers recommend gastric sleeve surgery. During this procedure, approximately 75% of the capacity of the stomach is removed, leaving a small sleeve-shaped portion that can hold very little food. This effectively helps in lowering one’s calorie intake.

2. Lowers appetite
Under normal circumstances, a low appetite is often considered a symptom of a health problem. But in situations where gastric sleeve surgery is warranted, reduced appetite is a desirable result. This is a significant benefit of the procedure since it helps one feel less hungry. By removing a large part of the stomach, the procedure reduces the production of hormones known as ghrelin in the stomach. Ghrelin is responsible for stimulating appetite. With less ghrelin being produced, the appetite naturally goes down.

Other benefits
The gastric sleeve surgery procedure requires the removal of a significant part of the abdomen. Despite this, the procedure does not inherently change the route through which food naturally passes through the digestive system. Besides, this procedure is simple and quick, with a very short recovery period. Aside from this, unlike a heart bypass surgery or gastric band procedure, gastric sleeve surgery does not require any object or stent inside the body. Plus, there are not many follow-up appointments or long adjustment periods required.

Aftercare
Once the surgery is done and one has spent a night in the hospital, they are sent home to recuperate. A few follow-up appointments are scheduled in the subsequent weeks and months. The appointments involve checkups to monitor how well the body has adjusted to the procedure. The effect on related health conditions is also checked following the surgery to ascertain whether the symptoms have improved and the progress of the condition has slowed down. In addition, the healthcare provider will also look for any side effects that may have occurred after the procedure.

Cost of gastric sleeve procedure
When looking for gastric sleeve surgery clinics nearby, it is important to know that the overall cost of the procedure varies and depends on several factors. These factors typically include the location of the clinic and the surgeon’s expertise and experience. Aside from these, the cost might also include fees for any specific treatment or procedure that might be required before or after the gastric sleeve surgery. This usually changes from person to person, particularly in the case of gastric sleeves for seniors who have preexisting health conditions and other risk factors. A surgeon informs one beforehand about these special and additional treatments during the initial consultation.

In most cases, gastric sleeve surgery costs between £7,000 and £11,000. To take advantage of competitive pricing, one must consult multiple clinics. Also, it can be helpful to know if a clinic or doctor offers payment plans to make the procedure more affordable.