Sleeve Gastrectomy

About 69 percent of all adults in Westchester and around the United States are overweight or obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Carrying around too much weight is a major risk factor for chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension.

Long-Term Weight Loss
 and Appetite Control

Research by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery has found that the mean percentage of excess weight loss after surgery is 72.4 percent within the first two years. This is significant, because even a 10 percent reduction in Body Mass Index can begin to lower health risk factors. When the stomach size is reduced, patients naturally eat fewer calories and feel fuller longer.

Other health benefits of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery include:

• Reductions in blood sugar levels to eliminate or control type 2 diabetes
• A decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure
• Improvements in quality of sleep and resolution of obesity-related sleep disorders
• Less muscle and joint pain and increased mobility after weight loss
• Lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels linked to heart disease and stroke
• Minimal scarring and faster recovery time that invasive weight reduction surgeries

Removing up to 85 percent of your stomach will have a dramatic impact on your diet. Immediately after surgery, you’ll notice a change in your appetite. You’ll spend 1 to 2 night sin the hospital for routine monitoring. Then you’ll be discharged with specific instructions about your diet and wound care to help the incision heal. Most patients take a week or two off work after Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery. Learning to adjust your diet and eat smaller portion sizes will take some time, but most people adjust within about two months.

As with any surgery, there are some risks associated with Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery. In any operation, there’s always a risk for infection, excessive bleeding, damage to organs near the site of the surgery, and complications linked to other health problems. Your surgical team takes every possible precaution to prevent these kinds of complications.

In a study published in the journal, BMC Surgery, researchers followed 117 patients who received Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy. While most surgeries were successful and complication-free, researchers identified a few health risks specifically associated with Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery which include:

Leakage along the staple line – About 1.7 percent of patients in the study developed a leak along the staple line where the small portion of the stomach was sealed. This problem is corrected with a follow-up procedure to close the leak.

Internal bleeding – Five percent of patients experienced significant internal bleeding during surgery that required a blood transfusion.

Abscess on the abdominal wall – Less than one percent of patients in the study developed an abscess on the abdominal wall or lining of the stomach after surgery. The problem is typically treated by draining the abscess with a syringe and with prescription medications.

Acid reflux disease – One of the most common problems patients experience after Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery is acid reflux. Researchers found that about 14.6 percent of patients developed gastroesophageal reflux disease. It’s typically treated with dietary modifications and medication.

At first, you’ll stick to a liquid-only diet of water, unsweetened juice, and broth. But don’t worry, it’s only for the first one to two weeks. At three to four weeks, you can start eating pureed foods like applesauce, baby food, yogurt, and protein shakes. Five to six weeks after surgery, most patients start eating soft foods like cooked eggs, soft fruits and vegetables, and easy to chew and digest meat, fish, and poultry. You’ll gradually adjust to eating smaller amounts of food, and should be eating a relatively normal diet within two months.

You’ll meet with your doctor a couple weeks after surgery to make sure you’re healing properly and adjusting to your new diet. After the initial follow-up, most patients meet with their doctor every couple of months during the first year to measure weight loss, evaluate your diet and exercise habits, and address any concerns.

Set your sights on enjoying Westchester on your own two feet and contact the New York Bariatric Group office in your area to find out if you qualify for Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery.