Description
Gastric Sleeve Surgery is currently the most popular weight loss operation in the world and induces rapid and significant weight loss.
Is Gastric Sleeve Surgery Right for Me?
How Much Weight Will I Lose?
How Sleeve Gastrectomy Works
- Restricts the amount of food the stomach can hold – the new stomach pouch holds a considerably smaller volume than the normal stomach and helps to significantly reduce the amount of food (and thus calories) that can be consumed.
- The greater impact, however, seems to be the effect the surgery has on gut hormones like Ghrelin, the hunger hormone, which favourably suppresses hunger, reduces appetite, improves satiety and improves blood sugar control.
Why Consider Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
- Digestion functions are maintained as the only change is made to the size of the stomach.
- Stomach openings and nerves remain intact and unaltered.
- The procedure for Gastric Sleeve surgery is laparoscopic, rather than open, meaning it is less invasive, scarring will be minimal, and recovery will be quicker.
- As Gastric Sleeve surgery does not affect the digestive system, recovery times are slightly faster than in other procedures.
- Lower chance of complications such as ulcers and other risks associated with gastric bypasses and lap-band surgeries.
- Involves a relatively short hospital stay of approximately 2 days
What are the Dangers of Having Part of Your Stomach Removed?
Do I Need to Take Multivitamins?
What Tests are Needed Before Surgery?
- a full blood count,
- blood group,
- cholesterol levels,
- kidney, liver and thyroid function, and
- a diabetes screening test.
- Minerals and vitamins base level
- a chest X-ray, or
- an ECG.
Other Preoperative Consultations
Sometimes a referral to another specialist such as an
- Bariatric physician
- endocrinologist,
- cardiologist, or
- a respiratory physician
Preparation Before the Sleeve Gastrectomy
Preparing for Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Patients may need to lose weight, start exercise, or change their diet to prepare for the procedure. Our doctors will go over the specific instructions for pre-operative care, but generally, patients will need to:
- Go on a liquid diet two-three weeks before surgery.
- Avoid eating after midnight, and on the day before surgery.
- Ask a friend or family member to be at the hospital for support and comfort.
Other Pre Operative Preparation
What Should I Bring with Me to the Hospital?
A hospital representative will call you before your admission and advise you on everything you need to know.
- Bathroom items & personal toiletries
- Clothing for your stay that is easy to put on and take off including pajamas, bathrobe, slippers
- Your regular medications
- Mobile phone, iPod, tablet, laptop, books, photographs, etc
- Do not wear jewelry
- If you have sleep apnea, bring your CPAP mask, tubing and machine.
Day of the Sleeve Gastrectomy
Before Your Procedure
If you are diabetic or pre-diabetic, an accucheck will be done and women may have a urine pregnancy test. You will then be:
- Given an IV drip and start with an antibiotic as well as a Heparin (a blood thinner) shot to reduce your chance of developing a blot clot in your leg veins during surgery
- Given compression stockings to be placed on your lower legs
- Asked to void before going back to the Operating Room
- Able to meet the anesthesiologist who may give you a sedative through the IV, and
- Meeting Mr Niazi before you go into the theatre
Transfer to Theatre
You will transferred to the Operating Room with large ceiling lights and many machines. Then:
- Moved onto the operating table, lying flat on your back with your arms extended on arm boards and be covered with a blanket
- Heart monitors will be placed on your chest
- An oxygen monitor will be placed on your finger
- The anesthesiologist will place an oxygen mask on your face, then will give you your initial anesthetic drug through the IV and you will go to sleep
What is involved in Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
The Sleeve Gastrectomy procedure involves your surgeon:
- Making some small (keyhole) incisions on the upper abdominal wall (the umbilicus may also be used for one of these to minimise visible scars)
- Insert specialised surgical tools, including a camera, through the incisions.
- Remove the outer section of the stomach (which makes up 70-80% of the stomach).
- Use a specialised stapling device to close the sides of the stomach tube (or sleeve) which remains inside the patient and is not removed.
After Weight Loss Surgery Will I Feel Pain?
- chest tightness, or
- a stitch feeling in the upper abdominal area (especially on the left side, up under the rib cage), or
- an ache in the left shoulder tip
How Long does Sleeve Gastrectomy Take?
Stages of Recovery After a Sleeve Gastrectomy
Waking Up After Surgery
Because your procedure is performed laparoscopically, any initial discomfort quickly passes, and virtually all patients feel completely awake, alert and able to have a normal conversation within an hour or two.
Will I Still be Hungry?
Will I have a Surgical Drain, Nasogastric Tube, or Urinary Catheter After the Surgery?
No surgical drains, nasogastric tubes and urinary catheters are routinely used by Dr Niazi for sleeve gastrectomy surgery.
How Long will the Hospital Stay be?
The vast majority of patients feel well enough to be discharged within 24-48 hours of their procedure. This means staying overnight or two in the hospital.
How Soon will I be Able to Walk?
As soon as you feel up to it. In fact, we encourage you to get up and walk about the ward the day of your procedure. This helps avoid problems like blood clots and chest infection.
Waking Up After Surgery
The vast majority of patients feel well enough to be discharged within 24-48 hours of their procedure. This means staying overnight or two in the hospital.
Gastric Sleeve FAQ
How Long will it Take to Recover After Surgery?
Patients having a Gastric Sleeve recover quickly in the first few days after surgery, and by 2 weeks most patients feel they have adequately recovered and are back at work.
What About Other Medication?
Will I be Constipated?
No. However you may notice some reduction in the volume of your stools, which is normal after a decrease in food intake because you are eating less. It is important to maintain adequate fibre intake, and our dieticians will assist you in this.
How Soon can I Drive?
It is illegal to drive within 24 hours of a General Anaesthetic, therefore it is important that you arrange for someone to pick you up from the hospital.
Can I have Visitors?
Spouse, significant other, parents, or a friend are encouraged to help you in your hospital recovery, by encouraging you, walking with you and helping you to remember to drink your water and use your incentive spirometer.
Eating After a Sleeve Gastrectomy
What can I expect After the Surgery when I Eat?
You will only be able to eat a few ounces of food at a time. You will not be able to drink and eat at the same time as your new stomach will not be able to hold both.
Post Surgery Follow Up Appointments?
Our Care Plan has been carefully designed to allow you to get the most out of your bariatric surgery.
Post-operative Outcomes
Our aim is to both maximise weight loss and enjoy freedom from post-operative problems.
How Soon can I Return to Exercise?
Will My Hair Fall Out After having this Operation?
Hair loss following weight loss surgery is common and usually due to the physiological stress resulting from shifting nutrients towards vital organs and away from the more cosmetic organs such as hair growth. It results from:
- Rapid weight loss
- Not eating enough protein or total calories
- Low iron, zinc or biotin intake
- Extended use of meal replacement shakes
Surplus Skin
Rarely do patients require plastic surgery for the surplus skin when they have lost a lot of weight.
Could Your Stomach Sleeve Stretch Over Time?
- re-sleeving the stomach,
- using sutures to reduce the stomach,
- placing a Gastric Band around the top, or
- converting to a Gastric Bypass procedure.
Is the Gastric Sleeve Reversible?
Do the Staples Used in the Sleeve Cause Any Problems?
No, the staples are completely safe. The staples used in the sleeve procedure are the same as those used in a variety of other common procedures such as operations on the colon and lung and have been used for over 50 years.
Will the Staples Activate Airport Security Metal Detectors?
How Long has the Gastric Sleeve Procedure been Around?
The sleeve has been performed worldwide since the 1960’s.
Avoid Future Weight Gain
To avoid this weight gain patients can:
- Sign up for nutritional counseling.
- Seek psychological support.
- Maintain a healthy diet and
- Exercise regularly.
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