When you need to lose weight for your health, bariatric surgery is a good option that delivers real results. The gastric sleeve procedure is just one of your many choices. This surgery allows you to lose weight by reducing the size of your stomach so you can successfully drop excess weight. But there’s a lot to consider when considering this type of procedure.
At Snow Bariatric Center, located in Fort Worth and Flower Mound, Texas, our team of weight loss experts helps you decide which type of bariatric surgery is right for you. Dr. Robert Snow is our board-certified bariatric surgeon, who has years of experience and expertise under his belt.
The gastric sleeve, which is also known as a sleeve gastrectomy, is a form of bariatric surgery that allows you to lose weight quickly and efficiently when other methods haven’t worked. The surgery is very safe, and involves reducing the size of your stomach so you feel fuller much faster with smaller portions of food.
This procedure is performed using minimally invasive techniques, meaning you’ll only have a few small incisions and fewer risks than traditional open surgery. During the procedure, Dr. Snow removes about 75% of your stomach, with the remaining portion shaped into a sleeve or tube.
The procedure also triggers hormonal changes that help you with weight loss. It slows down production of your hunger hormones, which keeps your appetite under control.
Dr. Snow may perform this procedure if you’re significantly overweight and have a BMI of 40 or more. You’re also a candidate if you’re overweight by more than 100 pounds or have significant health issues that could be reversed with surgery.
Preparing for gastric sleeve surgery is both physical and mental. Dr. Snow and our team take the time to help you properly prepare for the weight change you’ll experience after surgery.
Dr. Snow evaluates you to determine if you’re healthy enough to undergo this procedure. If you’re a smoker, you’ll also need to quit smoking several months before your surgery to decrease certain risks and allow for proper healing.
You may also need to have a psychological exam to help you understand the stresses of undergoing weight loss surgery.
Finally, Dr. Snow walks you through the lifelong changes you’ll be making when it comes to your diet and exercise.
Like many other types of surgery, the gastric sleeve procedure does have certain risks associated with the procedure. While these risks aren’t common, it’s good to know what could happen during surgery. Some of the potential dangers of gastric sleeve surgery include:
There are also some long-term risks associated with this procedure. These include vomiting, malnutrition, and low blood sugar. You could also suffer from reflux or a gastrointestinal obstruction. However, Dr. Snow’s expertise with this procedure helps to cut down on these adverse effects.
After your gastric sleeve procedure, you need to consume only noncarbonated, sugar-free liquids for the first week to allow your stomach to heal. Once you’re past the first week, Dr. Snow allows you to progress your diet to smoothly pureed foods for about three weeks.
As long as you’re healing well and doing okay, you can transition to normal foods after about four weeks post-surgery. You also need to take supplements to make up for changes in your digestive system. These supplements may include multivitamins, calcium, and vitamin B-12.
You may notice the pounds begin to fall off pretty quickly in the first few months after surgery. In fact, most people lose about 60% of their starting body weight after surgery. During this time, it’s important that you have regular check-ups with Dr. Snow. This allows him to track your progress and help you with any issues you may be experiencing after surgery.
If you’d like to inquire about gastric sleeve surgery, don’t hesitate to call one of our convenient offices in Texas today. You can also request an appointment online using the booking tool on our website.
