Sleeve gastrectomy in Herrin and Mount Vernon, also known as gastric sleeve surgery, is a weight loss procedure that helps you feel satisfied faster, thus eliminating your desire to eat more. This procedure involves using laparoscopic or robot-assisted techniques to make small incisions in the upper abdomen, following which the left part of the stomach is completely removed. The stomach is essentially turned into a narrow tube called a sleeve.
What is Sleeve Gastrectomy?
The gastric sleeve surgery physically reduces the size of the stomach, turning it into a small and narrow tube. This procedure doesn’t affect your gastrointestinal system or intestines, and your body’s digestive processes continue working similarly. But this procedure shortens the amount of food you need to eat to feel satisfied. Since it kills your desire to overeat, it allows you to lose weight sustainably.
Why is Sleeve Gastrectomy Done?
A sleeve gastrectomy is meant for patients suffering from clinical obesity or other obesity-related medical conditions, such as heart disease, kidney disease, or type 2 diabetes. This procedure is generally recommended for patients with a BMI of 40 or more or a BMI of 35 or more with a high risk of obesity-related diseases. Sleeve gastrectomy in Herrin and Mount Vernon reduces the amount of food you need to eat to feel satisfied, thus allowing you to lose weight sustainably.
Benefits of Sleeve Gastrectomy:
- Minimal risk of complications when compared to a gastric bypass or duodenal switch.
- Faster recovery period than other bariatric surgeries.
- Reduces the size of the stomach by up to 80%, which reduces the amount of food you need to eat to feel full and satisfied. It makes you consume less food.
- Doesn’t affect the gastrointestinal tract, so it eliminates the complications associated with an intestinal bypass, such as vitamin deficiencies and malnutrition.
- Reduces the secretion of the Ghrelin hormone, also known as the hunger hormone. This hormone stimulates feelings of hunger, so removing the section of the stomach that secretes this hormone eliminates hunger pangs.
- You can eat all your favorite foods without the risk of severe abdominal cramps and diarrhea, which are common side effects of gastric bypass surgery.
- No foreign objects are implanted within your body.
Drawbacks of Sleeve Gastrectomy:
- Higher risk of complications than a gastric banding procedure.
- Mild possibility of leaks from the staple lines.
- Irreversible procedure — the left part of the stomach is permanently removed.
Your Sleeve Gastrectomy Procedure
Dr. Ahuja performs highly personalized sleeve gastrectomy in Herrin and Mount Vernon surgeries using laparoscopic or robot-assisted techniques. The laparoscopic technique, which involves making extremely small incisions to perform surgery, is usually enough for most patients. But if the patient has an extremely high BMI and thick abdominal walls, a robot-assisted procedure may offer the flexibility and precision necessary to ensure optimal results. Dr. Ahuja will select the ideal surgical technique after a thorough evaluation.
Single-Incision Laparoscopic Technique
Dr. Ahuja may perform a sleeve gastrectomy using the minimally invasive single-incision laparoscopic technique. This procedure involves making a small incision in the belly button, through which the laparoscope and the surgical tools can be inserted. After inserting the surgical tools, the surgeon uses staples and removes the lateral part of the stomach, turning it into a small sleeve or tube. This technique leaves one small scar on the belly button.
Robot-Assisted Sleeve Gastrectomy
Dr. Ahuja may select the robot-assisted sleeve gastrectomy in Herrin and Mount Vernon technique if you have an extremely high BMI of 50 or more. Patients with a BMI of 50 or more also have thick abdominal walls, which makes robotic surgery the preferred option. The surgeon makes a small incision to insert the robotic arms with the surgical tools and camera. The robotic arm can staple off and remove the left part of the stomach with optimal precision.
Schedule an Appointment
Ahuja Bariatric & Beyond is a state-of-the-art surgical facility specializing in laparoscopic and robot-assisted bariatric procedures. Dr. Ahuja is the first fellowship-trained surgeon to develop two comprehensive multidisciplinary weight loss surgery programs in southern Illinois, one of which is the New Life Weight Loss Center, the region’s first MBSAQIP accredited program at Herrin Hospital. Please schedule an appointment to meet with Dr. Ahuja in Mount Vernon.
