Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

The surgeon at South Florida Weight Loss Surgery Center performs the sleeve gastrectomy as a new procedure for weight loss that is particularly suited to those patients at highest risk for surgery, either because of their medical co-morbidities or their weight. We offer this procedure as a first-stage, lower-risk surgical alternative that serves as a bridge to other bariatric operations. The procedure involves removing 80% of the stomach, leaving behind only a sleeve of stomach shaped like a banana providing restriction. This portion of stomach restricts the amount of food that a patient can eat and leads to significant weight loss (up to 40-50% of excess weight). The part of the stomach that is removed normally secretes a hormone (Ghrelin) that is responsible for appetite and hunger. Without it, people don’t feel the need to eat as often as they did before which contributes to their weight loss. The reduced stomach capacity and decreased secretion of appetite stimulating hormones following sleeve gastrectomy are important aids to losing weight, but long term weight control depends on close adherence to the dietary guidelines provided by our bariatric surgeon. As a patient loses weight (over a 6-18 month period), their risk for subsequent surgery decreases dramatically. At the appropriate time, they can be safely offered a second-stage operation, either gastric bypass or duodenal switch, if needed.

Sleeve gastrectomy is similar to LAP-BAND because it restricts the size of the stomach pouch and its ability to hold food. Because there is no rerouting of the intestines and no band introduced into the body, some people prefer this option of weight loss surgery over LAP-BAND and gastric bypass. Unlike LAP-BAND, removal of part of the stomach during the sleeve gastrectomy means that the procedure is not reversible.