Gastric sleeve surgery is a surgical method used in the treatment of obesity. This surgery is performed by removing a large part of the stomach and reshaping it into a smaller tube shape. This allows the patient to eat less and feel full faster.
The origins of gastric sleeve surgery date back to the 1990s. During this period, another obesity surgery called gastric bypass was popular, but due to its serious side effects and complications, gastric bypass surgery became controversial over time, and thus gastric sleeve surgery was developed.
Since the first gastric sleeve surgery performed in Brazil in 2001, gastric sleeve surgery has been widely used worldwide. Gastric sleeve surgery is especially used in overweight or obese individuals. When combined with diet and exercise, the surgery can significantly reduce obesity and prevent health problems.
Today, gastric sleeve surgery is a procedure that can be performed laparoscopically. This means that it is a less invasive surgery that causes less damage to the body and provides a faster recovery process.
Gastric sleeve surgery plays an important role in the treatment of obesity and is widely used worldwide. While initially only used in the treatment of obesity, it has been gradually used in the treatment of other health problems. Gastric sleeve surgery can be used to treat diseases such as type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, and high blood pressure.
Due to its low rate of side effects and high success rate in obesity treatment, gastric sleeve surgery is becoming increasingly popular. However, gastric sleeve surgery carries some risks, such as postoperative infection, bleeding, and gas entrapment.
Gastric sleeve surgery is constantly being improved thanks to technological advancements in obesity surgery. New methods such as robotic surgery techniques and endoscopic gastric sleeve surgery are being developed. These methods can reduce the risks of gastric sleeve surgery and speed up the recovery process.
The advantages of gastric sleeve surgery
Gastric sleeve surgery plays an important role in the treatment of obesity and continues to be made safer and more effective with new techniques developed. There are many advantages that make gastric sleeve surgery the most commonly performed obesity surgery:
1. Safe option: Gastric sleeve surgery is a less risky option compared to other obesity surgery methods. Unlike other methods such as gastric bypass, there is no interference with the intestines and no connection is made to the esophagus during gastric sleeve surgery. Therefore, the potential risks of gastric sleeve surgery are lower and the recovery process of patients is faster.
2. Effective weight loss: Gastric sleeve surgery provides as effective weight loss as other obesity surgery methods. Although other methods such as gastric bypass provide faster weight loss, gastric sleeve surgery is also quite effective in terms of weight loss.
3. Providing permanent results: Gastric sleeve surgery can provide permanent results as other obesity surgery methods. Unlike temporary methods such as gastric balloon, the weight status of patients is under control for a longer period of time after gastric sleeve surgery.
4. Affecting eating habits: Gastric sleeve surgery changes patients’ eating habits by making them eat less and feel full faster. This helps patients overcome obesity.
Due to these advantages, gastric sleeve surgery has become the most commonly performed obesity surgery in recent years. However, obesity surgery is individualized and the most appropriate method varies for everyone. Therefore, obesity surgery candidates should talk to their doctors to determine which method is most suitable for them.
The long-term outcomes of sleeve gastrectomy surgery
Gastric sleeve surgery is an effective method for treating obesity and is quite successful in terms of its results. However, it is also important to be knowledgeable about the long-term outcomes of the surgery.
The long-term outcomes of gastric sleeve surgery are as follows:
Weight loss
After gastric sleeve surgery, patients are expected to lose weight. In the long term, the amount of weight patients will lose varies depending on their pre-surgery weight, age, gender, and lifestyle. However, research shows that patients experience an average weight loss of 60 percent for five years after the surgery.
Improvement of obesity-related diseases
Gastric sleeve surgery helps to improve type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, and other obesity-related diseases. In the long term, it is expected that patients’ symptoms related to these diseases will decrease or completely disappear.
Changes in eating habits
Gastric sleeve surgery reduces the capacity of the stomach, making patients eat less and feel fuller faster. This may cause changes in their eating habits, and they may start to adopt a healthier diet. However, these dietary changes must be sustainable in the long term.
Possible reoccurrence of changes in eating habits
Patients’ eating habits change after gastric sleeve surgery. However, some patients may revert back to their old eating habits over time. Therefore, it is important to maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine after the surgery.
Complications
Complications are also among the long-term outcomes of gastric sleeve surgery. These risks include postoperative bleeding, infection, stomach fistula, or injury. However, the likelihood of these complications occurring is low and can be minimized with the experience of the skilled surgeon who performs the surgery and careful pre- and post-operative monitoring.
Post-surgical period
The post-surgical period is also among the long-term outcomes of gastric sleeve surgery. After the surgery, patients may experience pain, swelling, vomiting, or diarrhea. However, these discomforts usually decrease within a few weeks, and patients can return to their normal daily activities.
The long-term outcomes of gastric sleeve surgery include positive effects such as weight loss, improvement of obesity-related diseases, and adoption of healthy eating habits. However, it is important to adopt a healthy lifestyle after the surgery and to adhere to the post-operative follow-up program. Additionally, like any surgery, gastric sleeve surgery has its risks and potential complications.