Gastric Sleeve Offers Safe Weight Loss

By Etwar McBean, MD, FACS

The Bariatric and Hernia Institute, PC

. http://www.tbhinstitute.com/

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Gastric Sleeve Offers Safe Weight Loss

Obesity has been a growing problem affecting children and adults alike. Obesity is important because of the associated health problems. Many people have conditions that require lifelong medications and treatments.

For example, obesity predisposes to diabetes, hypertension and sleep apnea and for effective treatment these conditions require lifelong prescription medications such as insulin, or devices such as the CPAP machine.

Weight loss is a difficult task for anyone trying to lose weight. The core of any weight loss effort depends on daily lifestyle choices.

There are several choices for weight loss including diet programs, medications, and surgery.

For patients needing to lose 100 pounds or more, surgery has been proven to be the most effective method for weight loss and keeping the weight off.

Of the many weight loss procedures, the sleeve gastrectomy (or gastric sleeve) has been increasing in popularity primarily because of its safety profile when compared to procedures such as the gastric bypass or gastric band.

What Is the Gastric Sleeve?

The gastric sleeve is a surgical procedure that is performed using minimally invasive techniques with small incisions on the abdomen. The stomach is divided with a stapler to remove more than half of the stomach. The stomach is then shaped like the sleeve of a typical shirt. Patients will have smaller meals and the appetite is reduced because the hormone for appetite is removed with the stomach. Patients are in the hospital for two nights and can resume activities within 1-2 weeks of the procedure.

The procedure can produce 60-70 pounds of weight loss for every 100 pounds that a person is overweight.

Compared to other weight loss procedures it is much safer, and it compares in safety to most common surgeries today, for example, gallbladder surgery.

Who Should Consider the Gastric Sleeve?

The gastric sleeve is intended for people that are suffering from the effects of obesity or people that want to prevent the bad effects of obesity.

The typical patient that gets the procedure is at least 100 pounds overweight and often has conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea and arthritis.

The benefits are that patients get to lose the excess weight, they improve their health, they get rid of medications, and they enjoy a better quality of life with more activities and better social relationships.