A gastric sleeve, also known as sleeve gastrectomy, is a surgical weight-loss procedure aimed at helping individuals with obesity lose weight by reducing the size of the stomach. It’s a restrictive procedure that limits the amount of food the stomach can hold, leading to earlier feelings of fullness and reduced food intake.

• Stomach Reduction: During a gastric sleeve surgery, a portion of the stomach is removed, leaving a smaller, sleeve-shaped stomach resembling a banana or sleeve. This reduction typically removes about 70-80% of the stomach.
• Effect on Hunger Hormones: This procedure not only reduces the stomach’s capacity but also removes a part of the stomach that produces ghrelin, a hormone associated with hunger. Consequently, many patients experience a decrease in appetite following the surgery.
• Restriction and Weight Loss: With a smaller stomach size, patients consume less food before feeling full. This leads to reduced calorie intake and subsequent weight loss over time.

• Effective Weight Loss: Gastric sleeve surgery often results in significant and sustained weight loss for many patients, improving overall health and reducing obesity-related conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea.
• Simpler Procedure: Compared to some other weight-loss surgeries, such as gastric bypass, the gastric sleeve surgery doesn’t involve rerouting the intestines, which can reduce the risk of complications related to nutrient absorption.
• Improvement in Quality of Life:Many patients experience improvements in mobility, energy levels, and overall well-being after substantial weight loss.

• Surgical Risks: Like any surgery, gastric sleeve procedures come with potential risks, including infection, bleeding, and complications related to anesthesia.
• Lifestyle Changes: While the surgery aids weight loss, maintaining a healthy lifestyle with dietary changes and regular exercise is crucial for long-term success.
• Postoperative Monitoring: Patients typically require long-term follow-up with healthcare providers to monitor weight loss progress, nutritional intake, and overall health.

Gastric sleeve surgery is considered for individuals with severe obesity and those who haven’t achieved significant weight loss through other means like diet and exercise. It’s essential to consult with healthcare professionals to determine the most suitable weight-loss approach based on individual health conditions and needs.

Both gastric sleeve surgery and gastric bypass are surgical procedures designed to aid in weight loss for individuals dealing with obesity, but they achieve weight loss through different mechanisms.

• Procedure: In a gastric sleeve surgery, a portion (around 70-80%) of the stomach is permanently removed, leaving a smaller, sleeve-shaped stomach. This reduces the stomach’s capacity, limiting the amount of food it can hold.
• Mechanism: The primary mechanism of the gastric sleeve is restriction. It reduces the amount of food a person can eat before feeling full, leading to reduced calorie intake and subsequent weight loss.
• Hormonal Effect: This surgery also removes a portion of the stomach that produces ghrelin, a hormone associated with hunger. Patients often experience decreased appetite following the surgery.

• Procedure: Gastric bypass involves creating a smaller stomach pouch by stapling off a portion of the stomach. Then, a section of the small intestine is attached to this pouch, bypassing the rest of the stomach and the upper part of the small intestine.
• Mechanism: Gastric bypass works through both restriction and malabsorption. The smaller stomach pouch limits food intake, while bypassing part of the intestine reduces the body’s ability to absorb calories and nutrients from food.
• Hormonal Effect: Similar to the sleeve, gastric bypass also affects hormones, altering gut hormone levels that affect appetite and metabolism.

• Nature of Surgery: Gastric sleeve involves removing a part of the stomach, while gastric bypass involves creating a smaller stomach pouch and rerouting a section of the small intestine.
• Weight Loss: Both procedures are effective for weight loss, but the rate and extent of weight loss might differ. Gastric bypass often leads to slightly more weight loss in the first year compared to gastric sleeve, but long-term weight loss outcomes can be similar for both procedures.
• Risk and Complications: Gastric bypass surgery carries a slightly higher risk of complications due to the intestinal rerouting involved, compared to the relatively simpler gastric sleeve procedure.

Deciding between gastric sleeve and gastric bypass involves considering individual health factors, preferences, and the recommendations of healthcare professionals. Both surgeries are effective weight-loss tools, but they have different mechanisms and potential implications, so it’s crucial to discuss the options thoroughly with a healthcare provider to determine the most suitable approach.