The field of weight loss surgery is successfully helping people drop pounds that resist all other efforts. The doctors of Angelina Surgical Associates in Lufkin, Texas typically choose gastric sleeve bariatric surgery for their patients seeking effective weight loss management. Call the office today to book an appointment with one of our experienced weight loss surgeons.
Angelina Surgical Associates
Surgeons located in Lufkin, TX
Weight Loss Surgery Q & A
What is gastric sleeve weight loss surgery?
There are several approaches to bariatric surgery, the field of weight loss medicine that uses modifications of the digestive system to change the amount a person can eat and process. Gastric sleeve surgery is one of these, a surgery that’s well-suited for use with laparoscopic surgical procedures, so incisions are small and the impact on abdominal tissue is minimal, which greatly reduces the time needed to recover from surgery.
Gastric sleeve surgery may be suitable for you if your body mass index (BMI) is 40 or above. At that BMI, you’re at least 100 lbs over your ideal body weight, and you’re at severe risk of developing health complications such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Another bariatric procedure, gastric bypass, has restrictions by body mass, so some patients are too heavy to undergo that weight loss surgery. Gastric sleeve surgery presents an alternative for these patients.
What does gastric sleeve surgery involve?
The procedure takes its name from the shape of the stomach after the procedure. From its original pouch shape, parts of the stomach are removed to leave a banana-shaped tube, or “sleeve,” that’s about one-tenth of the size of your stomach before surgery. Hormones that boost appetite are made in a part of the stomach that’s removed, so not only is the amount of food you can eat reduced, but you don’t feel hunger in the same way.
Our surgeons perform gastric sleeve surgery using either laparoscopic or robotically assisted techniques. In either case, the procedure is performed using only small incisions, permitting the insertion of cameras and surgical instruments, sparing you the tissue damage and resulting long recovery times of open surgery procedures. Most of your stomach tissue is removed, and the sleeve is formed by closing the stomach along the line where tissue was cut away.
Does my diet change after gastric sleeve surgery?
Yes. You’ll move from clear liquids to pureed food, and protein shakes for about one month. You’ll then transition to soft, solid food. Thorough chewing becomes essential to your digestive process, and drinking with meals isn’t recommended to avoid overfilling yourself. You’ll typically need to supplement your diet with vitamins and minerals, and after a few months, you can return to normal meals, though in smaller amounts.
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