Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is one of the new methods used in bariatric surgery. This procedure is called laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy because it is performed laparoscopically by making 4 or 5 small incisions in the abdomen.

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is performed in hospital under general anesthesia. The surgeon performs this operation through a telescope with a camera at the end. With this operation, the large part of your stomach that serves as a storage will be removed. Therefore, you will eat less and you will feel full quickly due the fact that you will have a much smaller stomach.

How long does laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy take?

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy takes approximately 30-45 minutes. However, previous surgeries and the patient’s anatomy are factors that affect the duration of the operation. In general, most patients can stay in the hospital for 2 or 3 days.

Who is an Appropriate Candidate for Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy?

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is recommended for the following groups:

• Those with a body mass index over 40,
• Elderly patients,
• People with heart, lung or liver problems,

This surgery is safer for the above-mentioned patient group, because longer and more complex weight loss surgeries may involve greater risks for them

How Long Does It Take To recover From Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy?

After this operation, patients do not suffer from severe pain, because the abdominal muscles and membranes are not cut in laparoscopic surgeries. In addition, the painkillers may be given to the patients by the specialist if they have a feeling of tension and pressure on their stomach.

Are There Any Scars After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy?

After laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, only very small incision scars remain in the abdomen, because the surgery is performed by closed method called “laparoscopic surgery”. Eventually, these scars become invisible in a few months.

How much weight can be lost with Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy?

Most people will lose 40-50% of their weight within 2 years after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Before this operation, if your body mass index is over 60, it is possible to lose more than 50% of your weight. In addition, studies have shown that if you have obesity-related diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea or high cholesterol, this surgery can reduce these health problems by 75%.

What are the risks of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy?

As with any surgery performed under general anesthesia, there are risks associated with this surgery, but these risks are quite low. This method is a shorter procedure compared to other stomach surgeries. The probability of occurrence of the following risks is around 5-10%:

• leakage of gastric juice from the place where the stomach is removed
• bleeding
• blood clots in the lungs or heart
• infection

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