Gastric Sleeve at TrueCare Cosmetic Surgery & Surgery Center

Weight loss surgery is a big decision. If you are struggling with excess weight and are considering undergoing a weight loss surgical procedure, the gastric sleeve, or a “sleeve gastrectomy” is a more recent development that has become one of the most popular of all bariatric surgery techniques. The procedure requires less time to perform and less time under anesthetic. It also poses less of a risk to a patient than procedures that require a longer period under anesthetic and has lower complication rates.

How Does the Gastric Sleeve Work?

The procedure starts with you. Prior to undergoing surgery, you will be put on a special diet to be followed carefully for two weeks before the procedure is performed. The gastric sleeve, like other types of bariatric surgery, reduces the size of the stomach. It involves the surgical removal of part of the stomach and the creation of a tube-shaped stomach, called a sleeve.

A Smaller Stomach = Natural Weight Loss

The stomach is much smaller, but the valve that controls the release of food from stomach to small intestine is left intact and continues to function normally. The reduced stomach size restricts the quantity of food the patient can comfortably consume. After surgery, the feeling of fullness and satisfaction comes about after eating a much smaller quantity of food. In most cases, the surgery is performed laparoscopically, with tiny incisions and less risk of scarring.

How Much Weight Can I Lose with Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

While weight loss is slower than gastric bypass surgery, within twelve to eighteen months most patients will have lost seventy to eighty percent of the excess body weight – a lifechanging result. For obese people who have endlessly struggled with excess weight, the procedure brings new hope and is less risky than many other bariatric surgical techniques.

Is Gastric Sleeve Surgery Right for Me?

To determine if you are a candidate for the gastric sleeve, your medical history must be evaluated. Any surgery carries some risk, but complications from this procedure are very rare. Candidates for gastric sleeve are:

• Between 80 – 100 lbs. of excess weight
• BMI (body mass index) greater than 40
• Between 14 and 75 years old
• A history of failed weight loss programs
• Understands what to expect after surgery
• Is prepared to follow the recommended post-surgery diet, exercise, and supplement plan

Is it Safe to Have Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

While any surgical procedure poses some level of risk, the gastric sleeve is considered to be safer than many other procedures as it requires far less time to perform. The longer a person is under anesthetic, the more potential for risk. Though gastric bypass surgery also reduces stomach size and produces a similar result, that procedure takes several hours, while the gastric sleeve procedure can be performed in only about one hour and is considered to be safer for many patients.

Obesity Health Risks

Obesity is an unhealthy condition, typically leading to other health issues and often a shortened life span. This procedure can allow you to live a longer, happier, and healthier life, and finally lose the excess weight, improving your overall health – as well as your feelings of wellbeing and self-confidence.

TrueCare Cosmetic Surgery & Surgery Center in the Inland Empire: Gastric Sleeve

TrueCare Cosmetic Surgery & Surgery Center is an award-winning Surgery Center. When considering bariatric surgery, it is important to be confident that every precaution will be taken to protect your health and that your surgeon is known for excellence in surgical technique. We invite you to meet with us at our Inland Empire clinic to learn more about your options and whether the gastric sleeve is right for you.

Gastric Sleeve Recovery

The gastric sleeve procedure typically takes one to two hours to complete. After surgery, you can expect to feel groggy but with minimal pain while on IV pain medication. Any discomfort associated with the procedure is typically felt in the small incisions in your abdomen. You will be helped to begin walking soon after surgery is complete, as it aids in the healing process.

Going Home After Gastric Sleeve Surgery

You will soon be switched to oral pain medication to manage discomfort. Your diet will be restricted to liquids at first, but most patients feel no hunger for a few days, only thirst. Slowly, more solid foods will be introduced. Plan to take off three weeks from work or other activities and have someone to help you at home. The healing process often leaves patients feeling exhausted – it is natural for the body to want to rest during this period.

Prepare for a New Life, without Excess Weight

Rest, safe exercise such as walking, and carefully following TrueCare’s aftercare instructions should be your focus during this period. You are starting a new life, finally free from the excess weight. It is an exciting time, with significant changes in how you feel and look. We are here to help you gain the health benefits – and improve your life experience overall. Talk to us about gastric sleeve surgery.