Sleeve Gastrectomy

Shrinking your stomach to shrink your appetite

Sleeve gastrectomy helps you reduce the amount of food you can eat by by shrinking the size of your stomach and controlling your hunger.

Overview

Sleeve gastrectomy helps you reduce the amount of food you can eat by by shrinking the size of your stomach and controlling your hunger.

Understanding Sleeve Gastrectomy

During sleeve gastrectomy, your doctor removes about 80 percent of your stomach, leaving a small vertical pouch in the shape of a banana. The result is that you eat less because you feel full after eating small amounts of food.

Is Sleeve Gastrectomy Right for You?

Talk to your doctor about whether or not sleeve gastrectomy might be right for you. If you have been severely obese (more than 100 pounds over your ideal weight), and have health issues related to your weight, sleeve gastrectomy may be a good option.

Health issues related to weight include:

To be a candidate for sleeve gastrectomy, you must have a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher.

Depending on your health issues your doctor may recommend other procedures, such as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or gastric band.

Insurance Coverage

Several insurance companies cover the cost of sleeve gastrectomy, but you have to meet certain guidelines first. You may need to give details about previous weight loss programs you have tried without success, and you may be required to have psychological evaluation to make sure you will commit to the lifestyle changes needed to make the surgery a success.

What To Expect

Understanding Sleeve Gastrectomy

During sleeve gastrectomy, your doctor removes about 80 percent of your stomach, leaving a small vertical pouch in the shape of a banana. The result is that you eat less because you feel full after eating small amounts of food.

Is Sleeve Gastrectomy Right for You?

Talk to your doctor about whether or not sleeve gastrectomy might be right for you. If you have been severely obese (more than 100 pounds over your ideal weight), and have health issues related to your weight, sleeve gastrectomy may be a good option.

Health issues related to weight include:

To be a candidate for sleeve gastrectomy, you must have a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher.

Depending on your health issues your doctor may recommend other procedures, such as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or gastric band.

Insurance Coverage

Several insurance companies cover the cost of sleeve gastrectomy, but you have to meet certain guidelines first. You may need to give details about previous weight loss programs you have tried without success, and you may be required to have psychological evaluation to make sure you will commit to the lifestyle changes needed to make the surgery a success.

You’ll want to start making changes in your eating choices and exercise habits well in advance of your surgery; you may also need to complete a preoperative program.

After the surgery, your eating habits will change in a big way. That’s why it’s important to get started before the procedure so your body has time to get used to your new lifestyle.

Preparing For Sleeve Gastrectomy

You’ll want to start making changes in your eating choices and exercise habits well in advance of your surgery; you may also need to complete a preoperative program.

After the surgery, your eating habits will change in a big way. That’s why it’s important to get started before the procedure so your body has time to get used to your new lifestyle.

Eating healthy foods, monitoring portion sizes and exercise will help you lose weight and feel better after your surgery.

There is still a lot of work to do to lose weight after your surgery, but you are not alone.

  • Support groups in-person and online groups encourage you through your lifestyle changes and provide guidance as you encounter obstacles to making your goals.
  • Bariatric nutritionists help you develop an eating plan to make sure you stay healthy and lose weight.
  • Fitness experts can teach you what you need to know for exercise and keeping fit.

After Your Procedure

Eating healthy foods, monitoring portion sizes and exercise will help you lose weight and feel better after your surgery.

There is still a lot of work to do to lose weight after your surgery, but you are not alone.

  • Support groups in-person and online groups encourage you through your lifestyle changes and provide guidance as you encounter obstacles to making your goals.
  • Bariatric nutritionists help you develop an eating plan to make sure you stay healthy and lose weight.
  • Fitness experts can teach you what you need to know for exercise and keeping fit.
  • How long is the recovery?
  • Will there be foods I can’t eat?
  • How much weight can I expect to lose?
  • When will I see results?

Questions To Ask Your Provider

  • How long is the recovery?
  • Will there be foods I can’t eat?
  • How much weight can I expect to lose?
  • When will I see results?

Patient Stories for Sleeve Gastrectomy

Resources