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   Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

What is Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery?

Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery is a minimally invasive operation designed to create a small stomach pouch. The small stomach pouch is roughly the size of a small banana which helps patients feel full with smaller amounts of food and thereby eat less. The intestine is not rearranged in this operation, so ingested food travels the same path as it normally does.

    

What are the advantages of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery?
  • Average weight loss is 60% of excess weight.
  • Reduces the amount of hormones that contribute to hunger.
  • There is no malabsorption.
  • Compared to Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, there are typically fewer complications.
  • Long term studies (>5 years) are not yet available.
  • Smaller incisions are used with laparoscopic surgery. As a result, there is usually less pain, faster recovery, shorter hospital stays, and less scarring as compared to open surgery.
  • Read more about possible complications.
What type of anesthesia will be required?

Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery is done under general anesthesia.

What is the typical hospital course?

Patients arrive 2 hours prior to surgery and are admitted to the hospital. Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery usually takes 1 hour, and approximately 6 dime-sized incisions are needed to do the operation. Patients begin walking the day of surgery and are started on liquids the following day. Patients are usually discharged the day after surgery.

What kind of recovery can be expected?

Most patients will return to work in 2-3 weeks.