Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery

Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery

The Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (or the LSG) is a very successful procedure in bariatric (stomach) surgery. This surgical procedure is done by removing a majority of the stomach. The remainder of the stomach is a thin tubular pouch that resembles a banana in shape.


How does Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy work?

This procedure works by two mechanisms. First, the new stomach pouch is smaller in size, thus holding a smaller volume of food and helps to reduce the food (or calories) that can be consumed. The greater impact of the surgery, however, is on the gut hormones that impact hunger, satiety (feeling of fullness) and blood sugar control.


What is the procedure for Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy?

Sleeve gastrectomy is basically a surgical weight-loss procedure in which the stomach is reduced to approximately 15% of its original size, by removal of the majority of the stomach along the greater curvature. The result is a new stomach which looks like a sleeve or tube like structure.


What are the advantages of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy?

  • Stomach volume is reduced/restricts the food holding capacity of the stomach;
  • Rapid and significant weight loss;
  • Requires no foreign objects like a band;
  • Does not bypass or re-route the food stream as in gastric bypass;
  • Short hospital stay;
  • Causes favorable changes in gut hormones that suppress hunger, reduce appetite, improve satiety and patient experiences decreased hunger anger and appetite.



Sleeve Gastrectomy is a bariatric surgery or weight-loss surgery that is normally done using a minimally invasive technique.  A  Sleeve Gastrectomy is also known as Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy procedure, Vertical Gastrectomy, Greater Curvature Gastrectomy, Parietal Gastrectomy, Gastric Reduction, Logitudinal Gastrectomy and even Vertical Gastroplasty.

Sleeve Gastrectomy leads to a weight loss by restricting the amount of food that can be eaten by a morbidly obese person. This is done by removing 85% or more of the stomach without bypassing the intestines or causing any gastrointestinal malabsorption.


A person looking for a Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery should meet certain criteria. A Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery is always a last resort when all the conservative methods to lose weight fail.  You may be considered for a Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery if you are having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of above 40, no benefit from conservative methods like dietary or weight-loss drug therapy for more than one year, history of obesity generally for 5 years or more, willingness to comply with the substantial lifelong dietary restrictions required for long term success, clear understanding of the procedure, associated risks and benefits and if you have other health problems associated with obesity.


Sleeve Gastrectomy procedure involves making five small incisions in the abdomen. A small pouch about 120cc in size in stomach is made by using stapling devices. The remaining stomach is removed while the gastrointestinal tract is kept unaltered. Thus, the stomach size is dramatically reduced. Since Sleeve Gastrectomy is done using minimally invasive technique, the recovery is quicker with a shorter hospital stay. You can return to work and resume strenuous activity in about 2 weeks. Please seek doctor’s guidance on this. The lifestyle modification plan that would be given by your doctor should be followed for better results.