As there are numerous bariatric surgeries available at the moment, deciding which one is going to yield the optimal results for you can be a very challenging task. Choosing the ideal time to undergo it is also a complex endeavor for which the assistance of a professional healthcare team is instrumental. The bariatric surgeons at Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital have vast practice experience and, after a thorough examination, will thoughtfully recommend you the best surgical options you can benefit from in the long run. We employ the most innovative surgical techniques available at the moment, such as single-incision laparoscopic surgery and the da Vinci robotic surgery system, which will ensure a faster and safer recovery.
While gastric sleeve surgery is a very effective, minimally invasive bariatric procedure designed to help people struggling with obesity lose weight and change their eating habits, it is not suitable for everyone in this situation. Only a complete evaluation will reveal whether sleeve gastrectomy is the appropriate surgery for you, which our team of bariatric medical professionals will gladly perform to determine your eligibility. Should this surgery not be right for you, the specialists at Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital will promptly come up with several adequate and safe medical solutions you can choose from. When it comes to postoperative care, you can rest assured you will receive superior medical services and be permanently monitored by our specialists until you are healthy enough to leave the hospital. At Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital, we spare no effort in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our patients, regardless of how severe their condition might be.
Also known as sleeve gastrectomy, gastric sleeve surgery is a bariatric procedure whose purpose is to remove a significant portion of your stomach, which will result in a sleeve-like organ. During gastric sleeve surgery, approximately 85% of your stomach will be resected so as to make you feel full faster after you eat, as well as to prevent you from ingesting large amounts of food at once. Furthermore, the surgeon will remove the portion of your stomach responsible for producing hormones, which boost your appetite. Therefore, your food cravings will also lower in intensity.
The procedure is most suitable for people with a body mass index (BMI) over 40, as well as for those whose weight is too high for undergoing gastric bypass surgery. It is also important to note that gastric sleeve surgery is permanent and irreversible. Sleeve gastrectomy is minimally invasive, as it is performed with the aid of a laparoscope. The surgery will not alter the normal functioning of your stomach, so there will be no food restrictions afterward. This bariatric surgery has been gaining more and more in popularity in the U.S. since 2010 when its cost began being covered by United Healthcare.
To determine whether you are a good candidate for gastric sleeve surgery, the healthcare team at Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital will ask you to undergo some or all of the following tests and medical examinations:
If you are deemed suitable for gastric sleeve surgery, you will have to follow a 2-week diet prior to the actual procedure in order to lower your risks of postoperative complications. The diet consists in increasing your protein consumption by eating lean meats, lowering your carbohydrate intake by avoiding foods such as bread, pasta, and rice, and finally, eliminating sugar. The aim of these eating habits is also to decrease the size of your liver. Furthermore, two days before gastric sleeve surgery, you will have to give up caffeine and carbonated drinks. Adhering to a clear liquid diet during this period is highly advised.
On the day of your surgery, you will be put under general anesthesia and your vital signs will constantly be monitored by a team of well-trained bariatric nurses. After making several incisions in your abdomen, the surgeon will remove a large portion of your stomach longitudinally with the aid of a laparoscope – a fiberoptic instrument. The remaining part of your stomach will be carefully stitched to form a banana-shaped pouch (the sleeve). During the final step, the incisions in your abdomen will also be tightly closed with sutures and covered with sterile dressings to prevent infection. The surgery takes between one and two hours to complete.
There is also a new technique, namely SILS (Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery), with the help of which our bariatric surgeons can perform sleeve gastrectomy. As the name suggests, it entails a single incision in your abdomen through which the surgery is carried out, also with the aid of a laparoscope. This kind of sleeve gastrectomy implies even fewer postoperative risks. However, it will not be suitable for all patients who need gastric sleeve surgery.
Unlike gastric bypass surgery, sleeve gastrectomy is significantly easier to perform a bariatric procedure which implies fewer risks for the patient. There are numerous advantages for the person who undergoes it, including:
Depending on your particular situation, you may have to spend 1 to 3 days in the hospital or, on the contrary, be allowed to leave the same day. Shortly after the effects of the anesthetic wear off, you will receive pain relievers to alleviate postoperative sleeve gastrectomy discomfort. You will be encouraged to move and walk within the first 5 hours after you wake up to prevent blood clots. It is completely normal to experience pain, nausea, vomiting, and constipation after the procedure. Some of the risks and complications of gastric sleeve surgery are:
Nevertheless, while the risks of sleeve gastrectomy are minimal, the aspect you should pay close attention to following the procedure is your diet. Accordingly, during the first week, you are allowed to drink only sugar-free, clear liquids such as broth, water, Jell-O, decaffeinated tea and coffee, sugar-free beverages which are not carbonated, etc. When the second week comes, you can add the following to your previous diet:
During the third week following your gastric sleeve surgery, it is recommended to include foods, which are more solid in your diet, but still, limit your sugar and fat intake. These foods should be gradually introduced into your diet, as the procedure you have undergone was quite radical. You should thoroughly chew every bite and eat slowly. Some ideas of foods you can enjoy within this period of time are:
At the same time, you should not consume food, which contains starch, like pasta and bread, fibrous vegetables such as broccoli or celery, as well as smoothies with high sugar content.
Finally, a month after your surgery, you can start introducing solid food in your diet, but should still be cautious, as your new stomach is still healing. Thus, you need to avoid carbonated drinks, foods high in carbohydrates, dessert, whole dairy foods, nuts, and fried foods. Instead, the following foods are highly recommended during the fourth week, provided you remember to eat slowly and chew every bite thoroughly:
In addition to the 3 meals you should have every day, you can also include snacks in your diet, such as hard-boiled eggs, fresh fruit, hummus, and oatmeal. After the fifth week, you can begin introducing any food you like in your diet, but do not forget to do this slowly and pay attention to how your body reacts after each meal, as it might not tolerate certain foods anymore.
If you experience the following symptoms after your gastric sleeve surgery, seek medical attention immediately:
Walking is strongly encouraged during the recovery process. Within the first 3 weeks after surgery, you should avoid lifting anything heavy, as well as bating. Full recovery is typically achieved in 2 to 3 months after surgery. You can return to work within 2 to 4 weeks following the procedure, depending on what your job requires in terms of physical effort.