Gastric Sleeve Surgery at Obesity Solutions
Welcome to Obesity Solutions, where we understand that your journey to a healthier life is as unique as you are. Our advanced weight loss gastric sleeve surgery options are all meticulously designed with you in mind. They provide our patients with tailored solutions that yield lasting results. With a gastric sleeve weight loss procedure, you can bid farewell to the burdens of obesity and embrace a revitalised, healthier version of yourself.
Contact Us for a Consultation
Understanding Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Gastric Sleeve Surgery is also sometimes known as a Sleeve Gastrectomy procedure or, more formally, as Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG) surgery. It is a relatively common minimally invasive weight loss procedure that significantly reduces the size of the stomach. The purpose of the surgery is to promote weight loss by limiting the amount of food the stomach can hold, promoting feelings of fullness and ultimately leading to reduced calorie intake.
Gastric Sleeve Procedure: Definition and Purpose
Gastric Sleeve weight loss surgery involves removing a large portion of the stomach to create a smaller, sleeve-shaped pouch.
This newly shaped stomach sleeve restricts the amount of food that can be consumed, leading to a feeling of fullness despite smaller portions and reduced calorie intake.
The primary purpose of any gastric sleeve operation is to facilitate weight loss, alleviate obesity-related health conditions, and enhance overall quality of life.
The Mechanics of Sleeve Gastrectomy
During Sleeve Gastrectomy, the surgeon removes approximately 80% of the stomach, leaving behind a narrow tube or stomach ‘sleeve.’
This reduction in stomach size limits the quantity of food that can be eaten, impacts hunger hormones, and suppresses patients’ appetites.
Patients experience early satiety, meaning they feel full sooner and are satisfied with smaller portions of food. This, in turn, leads to sustained weight control.
Gastric Sleeve Procedure And Weight Loss and Metabolic Health
The gastric sleeve procedure reduces the stomach’s capacity to promote portion control and restrict calorie intake. It also influences metabolic processes and the anatomy of the stomach to manage hunger.
The gastric sleeve procedure affects the production of hormones such as ghrelin, which stimulates appetite. With lower levels of the hormone ghrelin, patients often experience reduced cravings for food.
Additionally, the surgery can lead to improved insulin sensitivity and glycemic control, making it a valuable option for individuals with Type 2 diabetes.
The Benefits of Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Gastric sleeve surgery offers significant benefits for individuals struggling with obesity. This minimally invasive surgery involves reducing the stomach size, promoting effective weight loss and improving overall health. The procedure serves as a transformative tool, empowering individuals to regain control of their lives and embark on a journey towards improved long-term health and well-being.
Comprehensive Health Improvements Beyond Weight Loss
Gastric Sleeve Surgery provides health improvements beyond just simple weight loss. As excess weight is shed, patients often experience reduced joint pain, improved mobility and enhanced cardiovascular health. Lowering excess weight can also alleviate sleep apnea symptoms, resulting in better sleep quality and daytime alertness. It can also contribute to remarkable improvements in a patient’s mental health including reduced anxiety and increased self-esteem.
Reduced Risk of Obesity-Related Medical Conditions
One of the most important benefits of losing weight through gastric surgery is reducing the risk of serious, life-threatening disease. Severe Obesity is a major cause of premature death from heart disease, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, liver disease and certain cancers. Less serious medical conditions associated with obesity include shortness of breath, nerve pain, arthritis, back pain, heartburn, leg swelling and varicose veins. If you are suffering any of these symptoms, we recommend seeking professional medical advice. It is important that you understand how your weight is affecting your overall health and well-being.
Enhancing Quality of Life Through Sustainable Changes
The good news is a gastric sleeve procedure is only the start of your journey towards healthier living. Losing weight is, understandably, the primary reason to have surgery but our treatments never work in isolation. Success comes from changing your relationship with food, exercise, body image, confidence and countless other areas in your life. Our aftercare, following your procedure, will help you form new, positive habits that will make any changes permanent. Interventions like a gastric sleeve operation have the potential to have a positive impact on every aspect of your future, both immediately and over the years to come.
The Gastric Sleeve Surgery Process
Gastric sleeve surgery is considered an incredibly safe and effective weight-loss procedure for individuals struggling with obesity. It is typically performed laparoscopically which means only small incisions are required. This minimally invasive approach reduces the risk of complications, minimises the chance of infection and ensures recovery times are relatively short. The procedure has been performed for many years allowing for a substantial amount of evidence of its efficacy to be collated. Gastric sleeve surgery is widely considered to be amongst the lowest-risk weight-loss procedures available to patients.
Preoperative Evaluation and Candidate Selection
While gastric sleeve surgery is straightforward and commonplace, it is still essential for individuals considering this option to consult with qualified healthcare professionals before electing to have the procedure. The good news is we are well-placed to assess patients’ specific circumstances, screen them for suitability and provide personalised guidance on weight loss strategies.
Gastric sleeve procedures are generally suitable for individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher, or those with a BMI of 35 and above with obesity-related health issues.
However, BMI is only ever used as a guide. Our careful patient selection process will identify if it is the right choice for you.
Gastric Sleeve Surgery
The procedure begins with the administration of anaesthesia to ensure the patient remains pain-free throughout the surgery. This is typically performed laparoscopically utilising small incisions in the abdominal area. A laparoscope, a thin tube with a camera, is inserted through one of the incisions to provide a visual guide for the surgeon.
Then, the surgeon carefully removes approximately three-quarters of the stomach along its greater curvature. This leaves a narrow, tube-like structure which is known as the sleeve. Specialised surgical staples are used to seal and secure the new sleeve shape. The removed portion of the stomach remains permanently separated and is no longer involved in the digestive process. The smaller stomach controls the amount of food a patient can comfortably ingest after the operation.
Recovery and Postoperative Care
Most patients remain in the hospital for a few days following gastric sleeve surgery. This allows our time to assess the results, manage any pain or soreness and check for any complications or unexpected reactions to the procedure. During this time, our patients normally provide advice on post-surgery life too.
Immediately following surgery, patients begin to eat and drink incrementally. They will typically start with clear liquids before progressing to other liquids. Food is often pureed initially. Softer foods follow for a while too. Our healthcare team supports all our patients with a carefully structured diet plan that supports healing and minimises the risk of complications. Given the reduced stomach size, patients may be required, over the long term, to take nutritional supplements to make sure they receive adequate vitamins and minerals. This helps prevent nutrient deficiencies that can arise from any decreased food intake. Again, this will form part of the aftercare provided by our health team. Strenuous exercise is normally restricted immediately after surgery but patients are encouraged to engage in light physical activity soon afterwards to improve circulation and aid in the recovery process. Over time, exercise routines can gradually build in intensity under the guidance of healthcare professionals.
We keep in touch with our gastric sleeve patients. Regular follow-up appointments with our team are essential for monitoring progress, addressing any concerns and making necessary adjustments to the postoperative plan. We are here, ready to help, throughout your weight loss journey and beyond.
Mental Health and Emotional Well-being
The great thing about gastric sleeve surgery is it not only transforms patients physically. Weight loss surgery also has a profound impact on their mental health and emotional well-being. Any journey to significant weight loss involves more than just physical changes; it encompasses a shift in self-perception, confidence and emotional resilience.
Shedding excess weight can lead to increased confidence and a new positive self-image in patients. Obesity is, unfortunately, still sometimes associated with societal stigma and discrimination. Gastric sleeve surgery can alleviate the burden of these prejudices in patients and allow individuals to feel more accepted and comfortable in their own skin.
For many, weight gain and unhealthy eating have been intricately tied to emotional distress. Gastric sleeve surgery disrupts this cycle, freeing patients to explore healthier coping mechanisms and address underlying emotional issues without worrying about their immediate health. Our healthcare team integrates mental health support into our postoperative care plans.
We encourage patients to share experiences and address any emotional challenges alongside having their gastric sleeve procedure. We can point to additional support and services as required.
Sustaining Success: Long-Term Aftercare
Beyond immediate physical benefits, undergoing gastric sleeve surgery typically prompts a wide re-evaluation of your lifestyle choices. Sustainable success comes from adopting and maintaining healthier habits including improved dietary choices and increased physical activity. This might involve adopting new hobbies, different friendship circles and even a change of job role. Without making significant changes, the temptation to fall back into old habits is strong. As a result, it is important for individuals undergoing gastric sleeve surgery to recognise that their transformation needs to be holistic. Seeking support, both professionally and socially, can significantly enhance the overall success and fulfilment associated with the surgical process. The good news is that our team is always happy to help at any time after your operation. Even years after the procedure, we are available to provide advice, guidance and support. From medical check-ups to psychological support, we remain on hand as your weight loss partner. We are always just a phone call away.
Gastric Sleeve Costs
For UK patients, gastric sleeve NHS treatment is difficult to get prescribed even in the most extreme cases. Our patients typically come to us as self-funding private patients. Our approach is based on a personal approach of tailor-made treatment and continuous support. Our prices include everything you need from initial consultation to ongoing post-operative care. We also prepare your stay in Belgium, offering an all-in inclusive package including full taxi transfer service and four-star accommodation.
To check our latest gastric sleeve prices, check out our pricing page. We know you have plenty of choices when it comes to surgical weight loss however we think our packages present the best value for money in the market. We offer all the benefits of European medicine at affordable rates.
Consultation and Taking the Next Step
If you want to start your journey towards a healthier, happier life, why not book a consultation with our experts today? If you are still exploring your weight loss surgery options, you can read comments from our customers below.
Frequently Asked Questions
The portion of the stomach that is “dormant” continues to produce acids and enzymes of digestion. This is normal and shouldn’t impact your health in a negative way.
Most people can minimize excess skin by maintaining healthy nutrition, aerobic exercise and weight training. But if you need to have excess skin removed, we can help you consult with a plastic surgeon.
It is strongly recommended that women wait at least one year after surgery before getting pregnant. Approximately one year postoperatively (depending on how much weight you needed to lose), your body will be fairly stable and you should be able to carry a healthy baby to term.
Night clothes, towel, soap, toiletries, medication (which you also take at home).
In week four you already start practicing to eat solid foods. From then on you can eat all healthy things without grinding or pureeing them. After three months you have already rewritten your eating pattern very well.
You are not allowed to lift, not exercise and above all take it easy for one month!
The stitches can be removed after two weeks (from day 12 after the procedure). This can be done by a GP or nurse. The sterile plasters on the sutures after the procedure can be left on for the first two weeks provided they are not soiled or peeling.