How Is Gastric Sleeve Surgery Different From Other Bariatric Procedures?

Once you have decided to take positive action towards regaining your health and losing your excess weight through bariatric surgery, the next and often-difficult task is to decide on which procedure is best for you. Each of the different surgeries has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. It’s always a good idea to discuss all of the options with your surgeon to review in detail the benefits and risks of all the procedures available to you, so that you may arrive at an informed decision about which one suits you best.

What Is Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

Performed laparoscopically, gastric sleeve surgery features the surgeon shrinking the stomach into a narrow tube with the use of surgical staples. The volume of the stomach is thereby reduced by roughly 75%; limiting the volume of food a patient will be able to eat post-surgery.

Gastric Sleeve vs. Adjustable Lap Band

Like the gastric sleeve, the lap band also limits the amount of food the patient can eat. In this case, it is achieved with an adjustable band that is placed around the top portion of the stomach, constricting it and creating a small pouch. Patients can expect similar weight loss results from both procedures. In terms of risks and side effects, the gastric sleeve has shown to have slightly higher complication rates due to the risk of leaks along the staple line.

Gastric Sleeve vs. Gastric Bypass

Gastric bypass procedures also surgically alter the size and shape of the stomach by dividing a small pouch at the top of the stomach. Additionally, the connection to the small intestine is altered, bypassing a length of the intestine. An advantage that gastric bypass surgery has is that, in addition to limiting the amount of food a patient can eat, the surgery diminishes the body’s ability to absorb calories in food by directing it away from a large section of the stomach and a portion of the small intestine. Since the gastrointestinal tract is not similarly altered in the gastric sleeve surgery, it has fewer chances of complications than gastric bypass surgery.

Surgery with Little or No Scarring

One of the advantages the sleeve gastrectomy has that many of our patients are most enthusiastic about is that, in most cases it can be performed as a single incision laparoscopic surgery. That means is can be performed via one small incision through the belly button. Because it is less invasive, the result is a much faster recovery and leaves little or no visible scarring at all.

Contact the New York Bariatric at 800-633-8446 to learn more about their gastric sleeve procedure. You can also register for a free informational seminar here.

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I went in for surgery. An hour later, I came out a new man.

5.0

Everybody treated me like a king. The day of surgery, I was excited. The hospital couldn’t be any nicer. I went in for surgery. An hour later, I came out a new man. My recovery was awesome. I was out of bed that day. My wife and kids were my motivation on getting this surgery. They are my whole life. I’m happy I’m going to be around for them.

I hit my goal weight ... and I feel fabulous

5.0

I had the gastric bypass. I am Type 2 Diabetic and I wanted to gain control of my sugar. I hit my goal weight in about 5 and half months and I feel fabulous. The procedure has completely changed my life for the better because it has empowered me as a middle aged woman that I can really do everything and anything that I want to do. I don't put an age on anything. I don't say I'm too old for something.

I was tired of the way I looked. I was tired of the way I felt.

5.0

I knew if I didn't change something soon, I was going to be in a lot of trouble. The consultation process was a lot easier than I expected. I was met with open arms. I was treated like I was the only patient here. Not only did they answer all of my questions, they had questions for me to make sure I was the right candidate for the surgery. After surgery and that weight started dropping off, my life started changing for the better.

I feel like a completely different person.

5.0

I had the gastric sleeve procedure. The driving factor behind me getting this procedure was my health. I didn't feel good physically or mentally. I had joint pains, even standing was difficult sometimes. Emotionally, this surgery completely turned my life around. I have so much more confidence. So much more happiness. I feel like a completely different person. I feel stronger. I feel able to accomplish more.

It saved my life.

5.0

The driving factor behind me getting my procedure was that I couldn't get up off the floor with my granddaughter. That was my why. That was my big reason for having this surgery done. After surgery, it was a little bit of a struggle with what to eat. What you put in your mouth that you don't even think about. You don't think about what you're eating or how you're eating and portion size. It's what I do now every single day. The procedure has changed my life in so many ways. It saved my life.

I am totally comfortable in my own skin.

5.0

I think I always grew up identifying myself as less than other people because I was fat. I decided to tackle that and just live my life. I had a sleeve gastrectomy. It changed how I view myself. How I communicate with people. I'm able to be much more of myself and live the life I always thought I should have been living. I am totally comfortable in my own skin. You have the tools you need to succeed here.

I have a brand new life. I can do things I couldn't do before.

5.0