Overview

When it comes to obesity surgery, most of us think of sleeve gastrectomy first. It is a very effective method to get rid of excess weight that people cannot cope with. Therefore, people with obesity problems frequently prefer the procedure.

Obesity is a chronic disease that is increasingly common today. The definition of obesity is excessive fat accumulation in the body. It reduces the quality of life and creates serious health problems. Diseases such as fatty liver, respiratory distress, and diabetes can emerge because of obesity. Also, it brings serious ailments such as sleep apnea, paralysis, insulin resistance, and gall bladder diseases. Lastly, people may experience social anxiety that can lead to serious psychological problems.

Usually, patients try different ways before deciding to have obesity surgery. Such as physical activities, diet therapy, and medical treatments. However, these methods generally do not work in patients who are severely obese. At this point, obesity surgeries may be their only option and the results are generally positive for patients. The most common surgical method among them is the sleeve gastrectomy.

Why is it Done?

The purpose of obesity surgery is to help overcome your problems with obesity and enable you to lose weight permanently.

Like many surgeries, there are conditions for sleeve gastrectomy. Not everyone with weight problems can benefit from sleeve gastrectomy. Sleeve gastrectomy is right for people with a body mass index of 40 and above.

Moreover, prevent future health problems with sleeve gastrectomy. You can overcome severe eating disorders, contraindications, and the weight that threatens your health.

You can lose 40-100 kilos with a sleeve gastrectomy. Thus, your health will improve, and also the risk of having cardiovascular disease decrease. Any joint issues will improve too.

The success rate of sleeve gastrectomy is between 75 and 80%.

How do You Prepare

Firstly, doctors perform various laboratory tests to understand your suitability for sleeve gastrectomy. You will probably need a change in your diet and exercise habits before surgery. Having a physical activity habit will be helpful during your recovery. Quitting any tobacco products is essential for you to fully heal. Furthermore, you must be psychologically prepared for the operation. Because you will need to make significant changes in your lifestyle and show self-discipline during recovery.

What Can You Expect?

You can expect to lose 60-70% of the excess weight after sleeve gastrectomy. Since your stomach capacity reduces by 1/3 with sleeve gastrectomy you will begin to lose weight rapidly. You will start to eat much less than before and feel full most of the time.

Before The Procedure

There is a long process that requires your patience before sleeve gastrectomy. You get ECG, PFT, and whole blood tests. In addition, they need tests such as chest radiography, detailed endoscopy, and lower abdominal ultrasound. You will also have a respiratory test and endocrinology consultation.

Doctors give you a diet program that you must follow for your good. The purpose of this is to reduce the volume of fat in your stomach. Following the diet relieve the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. As a result, the procedure becomes easier both for you and your doctor.

Lastly, you have to quit drinking alcohol and smoking 6 months before surgery.

During Procedure

Doctors apply general anesthesia for sleeve gastrectomy and perform the surgery with the laparoscopic (closed) method. They enter your stomach through a single or 4-to-5 hole to perform the surgery. An experienced surgeon can easily perform the procedure by watching on the monitor.

Then, the surgeon removes 80% of the large and curved part of your stomach with the help of staples. After the stomach removal, they control the bleeding that may occur in the future. They inflate your stomach by using special dyes and check whether there is a leak. Finally, they take out the tube and place the drainage system.

Sleeve gastrectomy takes about 1 hour.

After The Procedure

The specialists will monitor you closely after surgery. During the first few months, you’ll need various medical check-ups. The most important thing is to ensure that you do not regain weight.

At this point, you should be able to control your appetite. Follow your nutrition program under the supervision of your doctor. Dieticians recommend a liquid diet after surgery. You can switch to solid foods after a few weeks. Avoid foods containing caffeine and sugar and drink plenty of water. Also, give up smoking and alcohol entirely for 6 months and eat foods rich in protein. They will give you various vitamins and mineral supplements and recommend you to eat slowly and chew more.

You will get on your feet and start walking on the first day. You can stay in the hospital for 2-3 days after the operation. Small wounds in your abdomen disappear in a few months. Due to rapid weight loss, changes in your appearance will occur. Such as, sagging in the groin and upper arms and folding of the skin. You can visit a plastic surgeon 12-24 months after the surgery. If you want to have a baby, you should wait 1 year after surgery.

The Results

There are certainly impressive results of sleeve gastrectomy that can save your life:

• Losing approximately 60-70% of your excess weight
• Feeling full most of the time
• Eating less food because of the smaller stomach
• Low appetite hormone
• Fewer vitamin and mineral deficiencies in the long term
• Radical improvement in your health problems
• Some diseases may go away permanently
• Snoring and joint pain goes away
• Better freedom of movement

Your appearance will be more fit. Furthermore, your quality of life increases both psychologically and physically. As long as you comply with the recommended diet, you will not regain excess weight. In addition, the doctor must monitor you closely during the healing process. It is very important to perform the necessary tests after the obesity surgery. Dietitians should create the diet program according to your needs. This program can change as required. As a result, your quality of life and overall health improves significantly.

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In Istanbul Medical Assistance your comfort during or after all kinds of procedures is our priority. Whether you are looking for more information, an initial evaluation, or a second opinion, do not hesitate to contact us via Whatsapp at +90 530 884 47 22 and we will get back to you as quickly as we can.