Gastric sleeve surgery is generally performed on extremely obese patients.
Gastric sleeve surgery, also known as sleeve gastrectomy, is not a weight loss option for everyone. The procedure involves the permanent and irreversible removal of 60 to 85 percent of the stomach, reducing its size to a smaller "sleeve" shape. The result: The patient will feel full after eating a minimal amount of food, and weight loss ensues. There are a few factors to consider when deciding if gastric sleeve surgery is right for you.
Are You a Good Candidate?
In order to qualify for gastric sleeve surgery, the National Institutes of Health requires a body mass index greater than 40. In terms of weight, women must be approximately 100 pounds overweight, and men must be about 80 pounds overweight. People with weight-related illnesses like diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease and BMIs between 35 and 39 may receive special consideration for surgery. Gastric sleeve surgery may also be an option for patients who have limited ability to schedule frequent check-ups after surgery.
Cost of Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Cost is a consideration for most people when approaching any major medical procedure. Gastric sleeve surgery can cost between $12,000 and $22,000, plus the cost of post-surgical checkups, which will vary among providers. Because this is a relatively new surgical weight control option, it's important to check with your health insurance provider to see if it would be covered for you.
Pros of Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Advantages of the gastric sleeve over other surgical weight loss procedures include: a 30 to 60 percent weight loss within the first year after the surgery, no surgical alteration of the intestines and no introduction of medical devices into the digestive tract. And there is no risk of "dumping syndrome" -- food passing too quickly into the small intestine, causing nausea and diarrhea -- which can occur after gastric bypass surgery. Patients also follow a less restrictive post-surgery diet. Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and sleep apnea have improved significantly in gastric sleeve patients.
Cons of Gastric Sleeve Surgery
There are several disadvantages to the gastric sleeve that may affect your decision. Weight loss may not be as dramatic as it would be with an intestinal bypass procedure, and weight gain is more likely to reoccur. The stomach sleeve may stretch over time, increasing the capacity for overeating. For extremely obese people (with a BMI over 70), additional surgical methods may be required to aid weight loss. Since the procedure is new, there is a limited amount of data regarding its long-term effects.
