What is laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy?
Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is a restrictive treatment without having the malabsorptive component present in other bariatric treatments. It consists of resection of two-thirds of the stomach to give increased satiety and decreased appetite.
The Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy is a weight loss method that functions to completely remove up to 85% of the stomach through a stapling device, making the remaining stomach form a tube (sleeve).
The gastric sleeve has been carried out in Australia for about 10 years and is conducted laparoscopically (keyhole surgery), where patients usually stay in hospital for 2-3 nights right after the procedure. When in comparison to other bariatric procedures such as gastric bypass, the LSG has a lower complication risk. Also, there are usually zero malabsorption or nutritional issues with the sleeve gastrectomy.
How does the laparoscopic sleeve work?
The LSG works in several ways:
- The restrictive element
Patients are only capable to eat a tiny meal (generally one cup) just before the stomach is full. As the stomach fills to accommodate the meal, nerves are turned on which send signals to the human brain to indicate the stomach is full, and to stop eating. It is essential for patients to chew up food little by little and take time in between mouthfuls to allow time for these signals to be sent to the brain.
- The hormonal element
Patients do not encounter as much hunger after the treatment. This is simply because the removed part of the stomach is accountable for producing ghrelin, a hormone that induces hunger.
The mixture of these two mechanisms enables patients to lower their caloric intake, ending in significant weight loss.
What does the surgery involve?
The sleeve gastrectomy will be finished by your Bariatric Surgeon via laparoscopic or keyhole surgery, consuming 45-60 minutes. Your surgeon will make use of a stapling device to completely remove up to 85% of your stomach, leaving the remaining stomach to form a tube or sleeve. You will certainly remain in the hospital for a 2-3 night stay.
Following the surgery, you will be well-advised to follow a diet progression to re-introduce different food textures over a number of weeks.
What can I expect to achieve?
Patients who go through gastric sleeve surgery experience quicker weight loss than with most other surgical or non-surgical options, with an estimated weight loss of around 30% Total Body Weight loss (TBWL) over 12 months. For instance, a 100 kg person would lose 30kg on average. We usually refer to “excess weight loss” (EWL) when calculating the results from weight loss surgery, and we usually see around 60% EWL at 12 months with the LSG.
Education and support are two critical elements in achieving successful weight loss and maintenance. At Healthy Weight Australia, all of our procedures are followed by a comprehensive program to help your weight loss journey and to offer you the knowledge and resources required to instil positive behaviour change.
What is the success rate of the gastric sleeve?
The gastric sleeve success rate is around 80-90%. Here is additional information you should know:
On average, people encounter excess weight loss of about 60-70% within one year of surgery.
Most obesity-associated health conditions like Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, fatty liver disease, joint pain and high cholesterol improve or enter remission. People experience less hunger and a reduced desire to eat.
