Sleeve gastrectomy

Sleeve gastrectomy is a type of surgery designed to help people who are struggling with weight loss improve their health. During the procedure, the surgeon removes about 75–80% of the stomach. What’s left is a narrow, banana-shaped "sleeve" that connects the food pipe (oesophagus) to the small intestine.

This smaller stomach:

• Limits how much you can eat, so you feel full sooner
• Changes certain hormones that control hunger, which often helps reduce appetite
• Unlike some other weight loss surgeries, a sleeve gastrectomy doesn't involve rerouting the intestines or adding any foreign devices. It’s done using small cuts (keyhole surgery), and recovery is typically faster than with more complex procedures
• Over time, many people lose a significant amount of weight and see improvements in conditions like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or sleep apnea. However, it's a serious procedure that requires lifelong changes in eating, lifestyle, and follow-up care.

Who is a Candidate?

Individuals who are overweight or  obese who have not achieved significant or sustained weight loss through diet, exercise, or medications.

Patients unsuitable for gastric bypass due to certain intestinal or nutritional concerns.

Recovery timeline

(May vary with provider)

• Hospital stay: Usually 2–3 days
• Initial recovery:
  
  • Pain, nausea, and fatigue for a few days
  • Gradual diet progression: clear liquids → pureed → soft → solid foods over 4–6 weeks
• Return to light activities: 2–4 weeks
• Full recovery: 6–8 weeks
• Weight loss: Rapid during first 6 months; continues up to 12–18 months.

Benefits

• Significant and sustained weight loss (typically 50–70% of excess body weight)
• Improves or resolves obesity-related conditions (diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnoea)
• Restrictive-only procedure — reduces stomach size, no intestinal rerouting
• Fewer nutritional deficiencies compared to gastric bypass
• Improved mobility, self-esteem, and quality of life.

Risks

• Bleeding or infection at staple line
• Staple line leak (serious but rare)
• Nausea, vomiting, or reflux (GORD may worsen)
• Nutritional deficiencies (iron, B12, folate, vitamin D) if diet is unbalanced
• Stricture (narrowing) or delayed gastric emptying
• Weight regain if lifestyle changes are not maintained.

Sleeve gastrectomy is a restrictive bariatric surgery that permanently removes ~75–80% of the stomach, creating a “sleeve” shape. It promotes early satiety and hormonal changes that aid long-term weight loss, offering a balance between effectiveness and safety compared to other bariatric procedures.

This is just an outline. Your specialist surgeon will be able to talk to you about these issues in more detail and make sure that there is informed consent.