Gastric Sleeve
What Is Sleeve Gastrectomy?
It is a procedure performed to shape the stomach in the form of a tube. When the digestive system is examined, almost all organs have shape of a tube. Esophagus, colon and small intestines are all in the shape of fine long tubes. Being a part of digestive system, stomach has shape of a bowl to enable it store foods. Sleeve gastrectomy implies the irreversible removal of a part of stomach and re-connecting the left stomach to the intestines. As a result of this surgery, the stomach is given a tube shape.
Am I a suitable candidate for sleeve gastrectomy?
Sleeve gastrectomy surgery is performed for individuals who have body mass index (BMI) above 35 kg/m2 and comorbidities (Type 2 Diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, cholesterol, sleep apnea etc.) and who have tried diet several times but cannot lose weight.
What are the necessary stages before sleeve gastrectomy?
Our patients are examined in detail by physicians of several departments before sleeve gastrectomy and the surgery is performed thereafter.
Detailed blood tests are done that are also critical to determine the baseline condition in the follow-up after this surgery. Endoscopy is carried out by the surgeon who will perform the surgery. Examining the patient’s stomach before the surgery reduces risk of complications.
Radiologist, pulmonologist, internist, cardiologist, general surgeon and anesthesiologist evaluate the patient, assess the results and approve the surgery.
Is sleeve gastrectomy a risky procedure?
Each surgery is associated with risk(s). A detailed examination and follow-up of the patient before the surgery, performing the surgery by a professional team in a fully-equipped healthcare institution and following up the patient in further processes eliminate the risks.
Is there any surgery performed to reduce the stomach other than sleeve gastrectomy?
There are total 10 different surgical techniques used in obesity surgery and metabolic surgery. The type of surgery is jointly decided by the surgeon and the patient according to patient’s medical history, diseases, history of diet and current bodyweight.
How long does sleeve gastrectomy take?
Sleeve gastrectomy is a surgical procedure that lasts 60 to 90 minutes depending on the technique and anesthesia methods. The best anesthetic technique, the attention given to placement of sutures and experience of the surgeon are important rather than the duration of surgery in this type of surgery. Considering those factors, necessary time and care should be given to eliminate the risk of complication.
Sleeve gastrectomy is performed with closed surgical technique, called laparoscopy. Five to six small holes (each measuring 0.5 to 1.2 cm) are opened on abdominal skin to perform the surgery. Then, we may advise use of certain creams to prevent small scars or minimize the scars.
Yes, sleeve gastrectomy can be performed for these patients. Stomach is examined with endoscopy before sleeve gastrectomy and the surgery is performed unless there is a tenderness or disease in the stomach.
We discharge our patients on postoperative day 2 or 3 after sleeve gastrectomy. The recovery process is subject to inter-patient variations; considering this fact, we ask our patients to rest at home for 1 week to 10 days. Next, the patients can start working and social lives as long as they do not do heavy works.
Using medications and vitamin supplements is necessary for a short time to support healing and prevent potential complications after sleeve gastrectomy. However, this period is quite short. Those medications are not used for lifetime.
The patients should walk for the first month and increase the pace gradually. The patients can swim, ride bicycle, use elliptical cycle, do mild Pilates moves at the end of the first month. The patients can gradually start heavy exercises at the end of the third month. (Patients should necessarily do sports under supervision of professionals)
Yes, patients from other countries or cities can present to our clinic for sleeve gastrectomy. We perform their treatments successfully, provided they continue communication with us during treatment and follow-up.
Our skin surrounds our entire body and it has an expanding and elastic structure. Our skin is hold by both muscles and fats. The skin that expands and loses its elasticity due to loss of fat and muscle sags after sleeve gastrectomy. If the patient feels uncomfortable with this look after sleeve gastrectomy, they can visit a surgeon for aesthetic surgeries. Here, the important issue is when to perform these surgeries. Following sleeve gastrectomy, weight loss continues for 1.5 year. The aesthetic surgeries should be performed at least 1.5 to 2 years after the surgery to ensure that the outcomes are successful.
If the individual starts gaining weight again after sleeve gastrectomy and if diet and exercise attempts are unsuccessful, revision surgery can be considered.
Sleeve gastrectomy is performed for obese individuals at 18 to 65 years of age.
Patients are evaluated in months 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 after sleeve gastrectomy. We ask our patients to present for follow-up examination once in 6 months or a year after the first year.
The size of stomach removed with sleeve gastrectomy varies according to patient factors. Size of stomach is different in each patient. 2/3 of patient’s stomach is removed on average.
Following sleeve gastrectomy, patients can get rid of metabolic disorders caused by obesity and overweight, such as hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea.
