Gastric Sleeve Surgery Dallas | Sleeve Gastrectomy Bariatric Cost, Risks, Diet and Results

Gastric Sleeve Surgery Dallas

Gastric sleeve also known as sleeve gastrectomy is a bariatric weight-loss procedure. It is a procedure that is performed on patients that are overweight with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 and above.

BMI

Patients with a BMI of 35 to 40 who have health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart diseases or high blood pressure can as well undergo gastric sleeve procedure.

The procedure entails the removal of a larger part of the stomach, leaving only a small portion for food. The smaller remaining part of the stomach that looks like a banana is known as sleeve.

The remaining portion of the stomach can only take a very little quantity of food, making the patient feel full after eating very little. It also reduces the appetite for food so that you don’t feel like eating frequently.

The excess reduction of food intake leads to a significant reduction of calories and nutrients absorbed into the body. This causes the patient to lose weight over time.

Who is an ideal candidate for gastric sleeve surgery?

Before undergoing a gastric sleeve procedure, it is recommended that you first talk with your doctor. Your doctor will take you through some series of questions and tests to ascertain if the procedure is the best for you.

Generally, for you to undergo a gastric sleeve procedure, you should:

• Have a BMI of 40 and above. This means you should be 100 pounds or more over your ideal weight.
• You may undergo the procedure if you have a BMI of 35 to 40 and you have health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease.
• You should be between the age of 16 to 70.

Preparing for the procedure

Before undergoing a gastric sleeve surgery, you may need to attend a bariatric surgery education program. The program will help you get ready for the surgery. You will also be counseled on life after the surgery.

You will need to consult with a dietician and psychologist. You also need to consult with your doctor for the necessary information and medical instructions.

Your doctor may perform some tests such as blood tests, sugar level, and other necessary tests. You may also undergo imaging scans on your stomach so your doctor can observe the inside of your stomach before the surgery.

You may be given a special diet to follow a few days before the procedure. If you are on blood-thinning medication, aspirin or ibuprofen, you will need to stop taking them.

Your doctor will provide you with a list of medicines, vitamins, minerals and dietary supplements that you should be taking before the surgery.

You are not allowed to eat or drink anything the night before the surgery.

How gastric sleeve surgery is done?

Before the start of the surgery, you will be given general anesthesia to make you sleep all through the surgery. This is to prevent you from experiencing severe pains and discomfort.

The surgeon will make small incisions in your upper abdomen and insert a laparoscope. The laparoscope has a tiny camera attached to its tip which is connected to a monitor. The surgeon sees the inside of the stomach on the monitor.

The surgeon also inserts other surgical instruments through the small incisions. The surgeon will then use a laparoscopic stapler to cut out about 70 to 80 percent of the stomach. This leaves a smaller portion of the stomach that looks like the shape of a banana. The doctor seals up the smaller portion known as sleeve.

The larger part of the stomach that is cut out is then taken out through the incision.

The smaller portion of the stomach left can only contain a very little amount of food.

The procedure takes about an hour to complete.

What to do after the sleeve surgery

After the surgery is completed, you will be taken to a recovery room where you will be observed and monitored. You may stay at the hospital for a day or 2 days depending on safe the surgery was.

You will be given dietary instructions on the kind of foods you should be eating. Your doctor and medical team will give you instructions that you need to follow.

What to eat after the surgery

For the first few days to a week or two, you will only take liquid diet. After two weeks, you can start eating soft foods, then after a month, you can start eating solid foods.

The changes in your diet are because the stomach is still sore and tender. It needs to get healed before it can receive and digest solid foods.

You will be given vitamins, minerals and dietary supplements to replace the lack of food nutrients in your body.

You should eat slowly and gently at all times. After your stomach is fully healed, you need to make permanent changes to your diet. You need to cut down on the quantity of food you eat. You need to stop eating foods that contain fat and calories.

You need to engage in less strenuous exercises and be committed to a healthy lifestyle.

You also need to go for regular check-ups so that your doctor can carry out some tests on you and check on well you are losing weight.

If you feel any irregular pains or weakness, inform your doctor as soon as possible.

You can return to work after four or six weeks when you have fully recovered.

Gastric Sleeve surgery weight-loss results

The extent of excess weight that you are able to loss depends on how committed you are to a healthy lifestyle.

Generally, patients who have undergone gastric sleeve procedure have experienced losing 60% of their extra weight within 12 to 18 months after the surgery. This means, supposed you are 100 pounds’ overweight, you would have lost 60 pounds within 12 to 18 months after the surgery.

The result depends on how well you are committed to a healthy diet and lifestyle.

You need to note that you might not lose weight or you might regain weight if you are not committed to a healthy lifestyle. If you eat foods that are high in calories and fat. If you don’t exercise regularly and follow instructions that were given to you by your medical team. All these will lead to weight regain or no loss of excess weight.

If you want to experience an excellent result, you need to:

• Be committed to a healthy diet.
• Avoid food that contains fat or calories.
• Do not eat large quantities of food.
• Eat more vegetables and protein.
• Engage in regular exercises.
• Join a weight loss support group

Losing excess weight helps to reduce the risks of developing health conditions such as diabetes, heart diseases, high blood pressure, and so on. You will be healthier and look more smarter.

Benefits of sleeve surgery

The process of losing excess weight might not be easy but the long-term benefits are great. When you lose excess weight, you enjoy benefits such as:

• Your self-confidence increases
• You get more compliments and admiration from people
• You will be easily accepted and loved by people
• Your health condition improves greatly and you are not susceptible to unnecessary sickness
• You will no longer be bullied or talked-down
• Your sexual life will greatly improve
• You will be able to keep a long-lasting and intimate relationship
• Your clothes will fit well on you.
• You will generally live a happier and healthier life.

Risks or complications of gastric Sleeve

Gastric sleeve procedure is considered a generally safe and low-risk procedure when compared with other bariatric surgeries. Severe complications and mortality rate are very minimal.

The complications that may arise largely depends on the health of the patient and the specialty of the surgeon. If it is done by a very experienced and qualified surgeon, the complications that may arise is very minimal.

However, like every other bariatric procedure, there are risks and complications that may arise. Complications that may arise can be either acute or chronic.

Acute complications are short-term complications while chronic complications are long-term.

Short-term complications that may arise include:

• Bleeding
• Pain
• Blood clots
• Leak along the staple line
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Constipation

Long-term complications that may arise include:

• Intolerance of food
• Sleeve dilation
• Dyspepsia (indigestion)
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease
• Stomach obstruction
• Abscess
• Stomach ulcers
• Gallstones
• Diarrhea
• Malnutrition leading to kwashiorkor
• Hernia

Cost of undergoing gastric sleeve surgery in Dallas & Fort worth, Tx

The cost of gastric sleeve surgery varies. This depends on several factors such as the location where the surgery is done, the experience and qualification of the surgeon, anesthesia used and other related expenses.

The cost of undergoing a gastric sleeve surgery in a country like India is lower than undergoing the procedure in a country like the U.S or the U.K.

The cost of gastric sleeve surgery in Dallas & Fort worth, Tx can be from the range of $9,000 to $25,000 depending on the hospital and location.

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