Sleeve Gastrectomy

What is Sleeve Gastrectomy?

Sleeve Gastrectomy for weight loss is one of the restrictive operations for obesity performed at Garnet Health Medical Center – the other is Gastric Banding. Restrictive operations restrict food intake but do not interfere with the normal digestive process.

Sleeve Gastrectomy is the procedure in which a bariatric surgeon will remove approximately 75% of the stomach. The creation of a smaller stomach will physically restrict the amount of food consumption possible, but it also causes a significant decrease (by 90%) in the body’s release of ghrelin hormone (hunger hormone). This results in less food consumption, causing you to eat less and lose weight.

Following the surgery, what remains of the stomach is a narrow tube or sleeve which connects to the intestines. There are no nutritional deficiencies as a result of a Sleeve Gastrectomy because it does not affect the absorption of food, and the intestines are unaffected as well.

Most people who elect to have a restrictive surgery can no longer eat large amounts of food at one time. Although amounts vary, usually the person can eat only up to 1 cup of food without discomfort or nausea. It is very important that food is well chewed.

Always ask your physician about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits.

Do I Qualify for Gastric Banding Weight Loss Surgery?

One of the methods used to measure obesity is Body Max Index (BMI). BMI is calculated by taking your weight in pounds and dividing it by your height in meters squared (BMI = kg/m²). Your BMI, along with your ideal body weight, are used to determine if you are a candidate for bariatric surgery.

• BMI of 40 or greater – you are a candidate for bariatric surgery. A BMI of 40 or greater means that you are 100 pounds or more over your ideal body weight.
• BMI of 35 – 39.9 - Surgery may be an option for you. If you are suffering from other serious health conditions you can be considered for bariatric surgery even if your BMI is less than 40 and you are less than 100 pounds above ideal weight. These conditions are referred to as comorbidities and can include, but are not limited to:
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Heart disease
  • Respiratory problems
  • Sleep apnea
  • Heartburn and reflux
  • Depression
  • Infertility
• BMI of 34.9 or under – You are not a candidate for bariatric surgery. We encourage you to talk to your doctor about your desire to lose weight. Your doctor can assist you in development weight loss goals and a plan to successful weight loss.

Bariatric Surgery Seminar

If you have met the BMI requirements for bariatric surgery and would like to learn more about it, we’d like to invite you to attend our Bariatric Surgery Seminar! This is a free seminar and is open to anyone considering this life-changing procedure.

This is not a procedure that begins and ends in the operating room. This is a journey that the patient has chosen to take on that influences many significant aspect of how they live their lives.

There are also many mandatory steps and resources available to you to ensure the best possible outcome from your surgery – our Bariatric Seminar explains the entire process with presentations by our bariatric surgery program manager and one of our Board-certified Bariatric surgeons.

We encourage anyone interested in Bariatric Surgery to attend one of our seminars. This will help to educate you and streamline the process.

View Upcoming Seminar Dates