Gastric sleeve, or sleeve gastrectomy, is one of the best ways to help those who are morbidly obese lose weight. If you are having trouble with weight loss, and you need surgical assistance, then gastric sleeve surgery may be right for you. It is rapidly emerging as a reasonable alternative to traditional roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

What Is The Difference Between Gastric Gastrectomy and The Roux-en-Y?

During the gastric gastrectomy procedure, the size of the stomach is reduced by 80 percent. During the roux-en-Y surgery, the stomach is reduced to the approximate size of the egg, and the digestive process is altered by rerouting the stomach straight to the middle part of the intestines. Though it is an effective surgery for those who are morbidly obese, the side effect profile and healing times are greater. Gastric sleeve simply alters the stomach’s size, but it leaves the digestive system unchanged.

What Are The Success Rates?

The gastric sleeve has great success rates. It is more effective than the gastric band in several studies. Patients experience improvements in their overall health, their mobility, comorbidities like diabetes, hypertension and sleep apnea. In general, they have an overall improved quality of life. It is considered to be a safe procedure with a low complication rate.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, patients can lose an average of 55.3 pounds with this surgical procedure. Patients with traditional bypass lose around 64.3 pounds on average. The report shows that patients lost 50 percent of their body weight, and they were able to keep it off for 6+ years.

Gastric Sleeve Is An Excellent Weight Loss Option

Sleeve gastrectomy was originally created as a correction method to other gastric bypass procedures. Then it evolved into a two-part surgery to help patients who were in the super morbidly obese category. The biggest concern with a full bypass is being under anesthesia for long periods.

According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, patients will experience a weight loss of greater than 50 percent within a three to five-year span. This weight loss is comparable to that of a traditional bypass with maintenance. No foreign objects are placed into the body and there is no need to re-route the food stream. The hospital stay is much shorter, averaging about two days. This surgery causes favorable changes in the hormones within the stomach, and it suppresses hunger. Overall, the sleeve gastrectomy is a great option for those who are super morbidly obese or those who want less recovery time.