Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy
What is Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery?
A Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy (also known as a gastric sleeve) is a type of weight loss surgery. It is a newer procedure that uses less invasive keyhole surgery to remove a portion of the stomach to reduce its volume. About 75 per cent of the stomach is removed during the sleeve gastrectomy, leaving a narrow gastric tube or ‘sleeve’. Unlike gastric bypass surgery, the intestines are kept intact with a sleeve gastrectomy.
What’s involved in Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery?
A sleeve gastrectomy is done using a minimally invasive technique that involves making several small incisions in the abdomen. Using a video camera (laparoscope) to guide the surgery, Dr Ghadiri will remove most of the stomach, converting it into a narrow tube or ‘sleeve’. In most cases, surgery for a sleeve gastrectomy usually takes between 1-1.5 hours to complete.
How does Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery help with weight loss?
Sleeve gastrectomy surgery helps with weight loss in two ways:
Firstly, it will greatly reduce the size of your stomach and therefore restrict amount of food you can eat at any one time. You will tend to consume less food as you will feel full after eating a very small amount of food.
Secondly, in addition to reducing the size of your stomach, a sleeve gastrectomy may reduce the amount of the hormone ‘ghrelin’ produced by the stomach. Ghrelin is known as the hunger hormone and most patients notice their appetite significantly decreases following the procedure.
As with any weight loss surgery, getting the best and longest lasting results requires you to make good choices regarding food and regular exercise.
What are the benefits of Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery?
Because of the minimally invasive nature of laparoscopic surgery, less strain is placed on the body and the post-operative pain is minimal. This is an important advantage for patients undergoing surgery who may have other medical conditions especially those who suffer from heart or lung conditions. Another advantage of this type of weight loss surgery is that the food you consume does not bypass your intestines. This means that you will still absorb all the nutrients in the food you eat.
Am I a candidate for Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy?
There are many things to consider when thinking about weight loss surgery. Dr Ghadiri will discuss everything with you as part of your consultation. If you are deemed a candidate for weight loss surgery then other factors are taken into consideration to determine whether a sleeve gastrectomy is the best procedure for you; these may include factors that make sleeve gastrectomy the preferred choice such as:
A very high body mass index (BMI greater than 60) – Sleeve gastrectomy may be used as the first stage in a two stage plan, to increase the safety of a more complex second procedure to be undertaken 12 to 18 months later after some weight loss and improvement in general health
Severe health issues such as heart, lung or liver disease which may make a more complex procedure too risky and may benefit from a shorter, lower risk operation
Your age
Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease)
Family or personal history of gastric diseases that require ongoing endoscopic surveillance
There are also factors that may sway the decision away from a sleeve gastrectomy, such as:
Severe GORD (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease)
How long is the recovery after Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy?
Most patients are in hospital 2-3 nights and are discharged home on a liquid diet which they continue for 2 weeks and are then slowly progressed onto a puree diet and subsequently a soft diet. By 8 weeks you will be able to eat most solid foods in small amounts. Most people need 1-2 weeks off work depending on how physical your job is. It can be helpful to have supportive family and friends at hand to help you during the first few weeks. It is also helpful to prepare some meals prior to surgery and freeze very small portions to have in the immediate post-operative period. Our dietician will guide you in this regard during the pre-operative and early post-operative period.
Where will I have my surgery?
Dr Ghadiri performs surgery in Brisbane at Brisbane Private Hospital (Wickham Tce) and the Wesley Hospital. She also performs surgery in Ipswich at St Andrew’s Private Hospital.She will discuss the most convenient location for you and where possible accommodate your preference. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask Dr Ghadiri in your initial consultation.