What is Sleeve Gastrectomy?
Sleeve gastrectomy is a restrictive procedure that permanently reduces the size of the stomach by about 85 percent. This procedure can be safer and more effective for patients who are extremely overweight or have health conditions such as very high BMI, anemia, Chrohn's disease, osteoporosis, extensive prior surgeries or other complex medical conditions that may put them at higher risk with other weight loss surgeries.

The Procedure
During the procedure, the surgeon will remove the larger, rounded part of the stomach that produces grehlin, a hormone that stimulates hunger. The remaining stomach looks like a sleeve (or tube) and holds about 15 percent as much food as the original stomach. Unlike gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy leaves stomach openings intact so that digestion occurs normally. Unlike the LAP-BAND® procedure, the body is also free of foreign objects. However, patients may need additional malabsorptive surgery (intestinal bypass or duodenal switch) in order to lose all desired weight. The procedure is not reversible.

What to Expect After the Procedure
THE FIRST FEW WEEKS
Patients may stay in the hospital for one to three days and can expect to resume a full recovery within two to four weeks. On the first day following surgery, they will undergo an upper GI to confirm that there are no complications. After this test, they will begin drinking liquids and be discharged the following day. A follow-up appointment will be scheduled within one week.

LONG TERM
Although the stomach size is drastically reduced, it functions normally and absorbs food nutrients in the same way. This means fewer restrictions on the types of foods you can eat after surgery. Follow up appointments will be scheduled every few months to ensure the success of the procedure.

Total weight loss varies from person to person but most people lose about 50% of their excess weight in the two years after a sleeve gastrectomy and up to 80% after three years.

Sleeve gastrectomy is sometimes the first stage of a bariatric or weight loss surgery plan. Additional bariatric surgery may be performed to achieve additional weight loss once the patient's weight is low enough to reduce their risk of complications.

Risks and Benefits of Sleeve Gastrectomy
The benefits of sleeve gastrectomy far outweigh the risks. However, it should be considered only after you have tried unsuccessfully to lose weight on diet and exercise programs and are not likely to be successful without surgical intervention.

Once you and your physician have decided on surgery, you should ask questions, understand your role in the procedure, recognize that surgery has its limitations and commit yourself to a long-term follow up program in order to maximize your results. It is also important to understand that the higher your Body Mass Index (BMI) and/or age, the greater your risk and that reactions to the stress of surgery and drugs used can be unpredictable.  Before surgery, you will be asked to sign a Consent Form stating you understand the risks involved.

Benefits of Sleeve Gastrectomy	Risks of Sleeve Gastrectomy
Because the stomach functions normally, there are fewer restrictions on the types of food that can be eaten The hormones that stimulate hunger are eliminated The procedure is suited for people with health conditions that do not make them good candidates for other weight loss surgeries Standard risk of surgery (bleeding, infection, adverse risk of anesthesia)	Staple leakage or separation requiring minor revision surgery Does not always produce total desired weight loss; may need additional surgical procedures Increased risk of long-term weight gain Possible nutritional deficiency due to decreased intake Deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, gall stones

Disclaimer: As with any surgery, there are certain risks and complications associated with these procedures. Please talk to your doctor about your individual risk and candidacy for bariatric surgery.

Maximizing Your Outcome
Sleeve Gastrectomy is not a magic bullet. It is a tool for weight loss and maintenance, but the overall results are up to you. Committing to a follow-up program is key, and we'll be with you every step of the way with tools and resources to help you maximize your success.