Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

A laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is a weight loss procedure to remove part of the stomach. It helps people lose weight by limiting the amount of food you can comfortably eat and prompts hormonal changes in the body that support weight loss.

What is a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy?

In a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, part of the stomach is separated and removed to create a new, smaller stomach. This is referred to as a ‘gastric sleeve’. Having a smaller stomach means you are restricted in the amount of food you can comfortably eat. This helps people lose weight because you are consuming less food and therefore fewer calories.

A laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy has other weight loss benefits too. Removing a significant portion of the stomach reduces the amount of the ‘hunger hormone’ ghrelin your body produces. These hormonal changes may lessen your focus on food or tendency to overeat. 

In a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, food still passes through the intestines. This differs slightly from other weight loss procedures that ‘bypass’ some of the intestines. This means all the calories and nutrients contained in the food you eat are absorbed by the body as normal.

Benefits of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy for weight loss

There are many benefits of a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. It can help you:

• Achieve significant weight loss – up to 60% of your excess weight within two years.

• Reduce your risk of serious disease – losing excess weight can help resolve or reduce your risk of conditions including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes.

• Take fewer medications – people typically reduce their reliance on other medications (eg for diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, joint pain) after losing excess weight.

• Enjoy better sleep – surgery can improve the quality of your sleep and related conditions like obstructive sleep apnoea.

• Boost your fertility – hormonal changes may result in more regular cycles, improved ovulation and better chances of conceiving.

Step by Step: Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

• Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is performed using minimally invasive keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic.  

• Several small incisions are made in the abdomen for surgical instruments including a laparoscope (tiny camera).

• A stapling device is used to divide the stomach vertically.

• Around 80% of the stomach is removed, leaving behind a small, banana-shaped tube or ‘sleeve’.

• Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy surgery usually takes between 1-2 hours to complete.

After surgery: what to expect

You should expect to be in hospital for 1-3 days for your laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy procedure.

You will begin a modified diet straight away, including fluids only for the first two weeks, followed by a pureed and soft food diet for up to six weeks. You will also need to take multivitamins to supplement your diet.

Dr Hopkins will discuss your diet plan and make sure you have time to ask questions before and after your procedure. Follow up appointments will include a surgical review and review of your diet and eating plan.

You can usually expect to return to work two weeks post-surgery, at full or reduced duties, depending on the work you do. As with any abdominal surgery, there is a risk of hernia at the site of any incisions. Walking is encouraged; however, more strenuous exercise, heavy lifting or straining must be limited.