Sleeve Gastrectomy

There is no lower age limit determined in international standards for sleeve gastrectomy surgery. However, it is an accepted general tendency that the person has completed his/her physical development.

Gastric sleeve gastrectomy is an operation to reduce the stomach in order to help weight loss in people who cannot lose excess weight with diet and sports.

Body mass index (BMI) is important for sleeve gastrectomy. Patients with BMI>40 or BMI>35 and at least one accompanying disease (type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, sleep apnoea, etc.) are suitable candidates for sleeve gastrectomy surgery.

Gastric sleeve surgery is not performed on those whose BMI is not suitable, especially those with BMI >60, alcohol addiction, psychological problems, eating disorders and whose general health condition is not suitable for general anaesthesia.

A significant part of the stomach (80%) is cut lengthwise and removed. The remaining part of the stomach is shaped like a longitudinal narrow pocket and resembles a banana. The volume of this stomach pocket is 60-100 ml and the size of a banana.

Sleeve gastrectomy surgery takes 40-60 minutes.

You will stay in hospital for 2 days after sleeve gastrectomy.

Since sleeve gastrectomy is performed laparoscopically, the pain is very minor and short-lived compared to other abdominal surgeries. The pain that occurs only on the first day responds easily to medication. You can return to normal life after the second day.

In sleeve gastrectomy, the stomach volume is reduced. Thus, the eating capacity is reduced. At the same time, a hormonal effect is also provided as the hunger hormone ‘ghrelin’ secreted from the removed stomach part is deactivated. In this way, the patient cannot eat large portions as before and does not get hungry.

It is recommended to increase protein intake and decrease fat and calorie intake before surgery. Fizzy drinks and caffeine consumption should be avoided 2 days before the operation, and a liquid diet should be preferred as much as possible.

In the first week after sleeve gastrectomy, only transparent liquid foods (water, fruit juice, herbal teas, meat and chicken broth soups, diluted buttermilk), in the 2nd week more viscous drinks are recommended. In the 3rd week, pureed foods (vegetable purees, fish, soft cheese, etc.) and in the 4th week, solid foods are added to the diet. Optimum nutrition is achieved at the end of the first month.

All fluids taken in the first week after sleeve gastrectomy surgery should be at least 1.5 litres. This amount can be increased to a maximum of 2-2.5 litres. Water should be drunk sip by sip and should be warm.

Optimum nutrition after sleeve gastrectomy surgery is started at the end of the first month.

Since the stomach is reduced with sleeve gastrectomy surgery, you cannot eat in the old way. Small portions are recommended.

It is recommended to eat 800-1000 calories a day for the first 2 years and 1000-1200 calories a day after 2 years. You should avoid high-calorie and fatty foods and carbonated drinks. It is recommended to eat a protein-rich diet. You can consume 40-60 g protein per day. You should drink 6-8 glasses of water a day.

Eat small portions every day. Eat 4-6 times a day. Chew food thoroughly and puree it before swallowing. Eat slowly. Eat high protein foods. Do not drink water with meals, drink water 30 minutes before or after meals.

Multivitamin and mineral supplements are recommended for at least one year after gastric sleeve surgery. Calcium and vitamin B12 are especially important. The duration of supplementation may vary from person to person.

Overeating after sleeve gastrectomy causes reflux. In the long term, the remaining stomach dimensions expand and you start to gain weight.

Surgical methods are more effective than diet and sports in the treatment of obesity. Sleeve gastrectomy is the most physiological surgical method. Since only the stomach is reduced in this method, the absorption problem of nutrients is much less than in gastric bypass surgery. Due to the decrease in hunger hormone, the amount of eating decreases in people who were fed with excessively large portions before surgery. Dumping syndrome seen in gastric bypass surgery is not seen in sleeve gastrectomy surgery, because no surgical intervention involving the small intestine is performed. Surgical complication rates are very low. Postoperative vitamin and mineral deficiencies are very low compared to other methods.

Gastric sleeve gastrectomy is irreversible. Reflux complaints may occur if you eat fast after sleeve gastrectomy or if the portions are large. If the recommended dietary rules are not followed, the reduced stomach may expand again. In the long term, the rate of failure in weight loss and weight regain is higher than gastric bypass surgery.

After sleeve gastrectomy, 60-80% of the excess weight is lost. This rate is often reached at the end of one year.

An average of 15 kg is lost in the first month.

An average of 10 kg is lost in the 2nd month after surgery.

In the 3rd month after the operation and afterwards, an average of 5 kg per month is lost.

An average of 40-50 kg is lost in the first 6 months.

By following the recommendations of your physician and dietician and going to your follow-up visits, you can reach the maximum weight you can lose with sleeve gastrectomy surgery.

You can return to work after the first week. However, if your job requires physical strength, then it is recommended that you start working at the end of the 2nd week.

Full recovery takes 3-4 weeks after sleeve gastrectomy.

Exercises can be started at the end of the first month. Regular exercise in this way will reduce the rate of hair loss, sagging and wrinkles in the body that will develop after surgery.

Some hair loss can be seen within 6-9 months after surgery. This is thought to develop due to vitamin and mineral deficiency. This type of hair loss is absolutely temporary. Vitamin and mineral supplements and regular sports reduce the rate of hair loss. After the 9th month, hair loss stops and hair starts to grow again.

In order not to gain weight again in the long term, your physician and a dietician should be consulted regularly. Pastries, rice, pasta, sherbet desserts, drinks such as acidic drinks should not be consumed for at least 2 years. Eating habits should be changed and healthy lifestyle changes should be implemented permanently.

Patients who cannot make the recommended healthy lifestyle changes after sleeve gastrectomy surgery are at risk of weight regain. Weight gain after sleeve gastrectomy surgery is 30-40%.

If the recommended diet is not followed and lifestyle changes are not applied 1-2 years after sleeve gastrectomy surgery, you may start gaining weight again. Some of the weight lost can be regained.

Sleeve gastrectomy is an irreversible surgery. Since a large part of the stomach is cut and removed longitudinally, it is not possible for the stomach to return to normal. The stomach is now the size and shape of a banana.

The stomach, which regains the size and shape of a banana with sleeve gastrectomy surgery, can stretch if portions are eaten in large portions, overeating continues, the recommended diet is not followed and eating habits are not changed.

Sleeve gastrectomy does not shorten life span. On the contrary, it is one of the most common weight loss surgeries. It prolongs life and improves quality of life by improving life-threatening chronic diseases (type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, hypercholesterolaemia, stroke, sleep apnoea, etc.).

Sleeve gastrectomy surgery allows you to lose 60-80% of excess weight. Therefore, after 1-2 years, sagging is seen on the body, especially on your skin. This causes an unpleasant appearance. After your weight stabilises, that is, after 1-2 years, these deformations can be removed with aesthetic surgeries.

Sleeve gastrectomy is the most physiological obesity surgery method. In this method, since only the stomach is reduced and no intervention is made to the small intestines, the absorption problem of nutrients is much less marked than in gastric bypass surgery. Therefore, Dumping syndrome seen in gastric bypass surgery is not seen in sleeve gastrectomy surgery and postoperative vitamin and mineral deficiencies are less common. Due to the decrease in hunger hormone in sleeve gastrectomy surgery, the amount of eating decreases in people who eat excessively large portions before surgery. The rate of weight loss in sleeve gastrectomy surgery is slower than gastric bypass surgery. Surgically, sleeve gastrectomy is an easier method. Therefore, complication rates are very low. However, it is an irreversible surgery. However, gastric bypass surgery is a reversible surgical technique, although it has difficulties in case of absolute necessity.

Sleeve gastrectomy is the most physiological obesity surgery method.

Leakage from the sutures after sleeve gastrectomy surgery is seen at a rate of 1%.

Gastric sleeve gastrectomy is not dangerous. The most common and least risky obesity surgery is sleeve gastrectomy.

You are discharged on the 2nd day after the operation and return to your normal life. You can return to work after the first week. If your job requires physical strength, you can only work at the end of the 2nd week.

You can become pregnant one year after sleeve gastrectomy.

Even if there is no problem 15-20 days after sleeve gastrectomy, since optimal nutrition is started at the end of the first month, it is recommended to start experiencing sexuality after one month.

Your quality of life improves as you lose weight. Your weight-related health problems improve.