Sleeve Gastrectomy

A sleeve gastrectomy is essentially a restrictive bariatric surgery where weight loss is achieved by reducing gastric volume. The stomach is converted into a long, thin tube by stapling it along its length and removing the excess stomach. This operation is achieved via a 'keyhole' approach while you are under a general anaesthetic. The route that the food takes following a sleeve gastrectomy is the same as it took before, unlike in a gastric bypass surgery, where food enters a small pouch and then passes straight in to the small bowel. As the stomach is smaller, it is able to hold less food which gives a feeling of fullness and satisfaction earlier. You may also feel less hungry after this procedure and therefore eat less and lose weight. (1) A major advantage of sleeve gastrectomy is that despite being a easy, quick and safe bariatric procedure, it is also an effective surgical technique offering considerable excess weight loss. (1)