Sleeve Gastrectomy or Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

A sleeve gastrectomy or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is a common bariatric procedure that removes about 75% of the stomach. This procedure is performed via a small laparoscopic incision. The remainder of the stomach following the surgery, is the size of a banana, shaped like a tube. This results in an overall reduction in consumption of food and absorption of nutrients that subsequently causes weight loss.

In addition to reduced food intake and absorption of nutrients, the surgery also results in hormonal changes in the body that further accelerate the weight loss.

Apart from aiding weight-loss the procedure is also known to reduce the risk of hypertension, heart diseases, strokes, gastroenterological reflux disease and alleviate the symptoms of type 2 diabetes.

This bariatric procedure is helpful for patients with a higher than 40 BMI, although doctors will also advise patients with a lesser BMI also to undergo this procedure, should they have various other co-morbidities as well.Like all surgical procedures, gastric banding does have a few risks. But the medical staff will take all precautions to mitigate every possible. Some of the inherent risks include – excessive bleeding, infections, blood clotting and breathing difficulties.