Gastric Sleeve Surgery – NYC

Quick Facts: Gastric Sleeve

  • One-time procedure. No adjustments needed.

  • Minimally invasive surgical procedure.
  • Sometimes covered by insurance.
  • Not reversible.

Learn More About the Gastric Sleeve

People who suffer from obesity and obesity-related health issues may be researching a procedure known as a gastric sleeve in NYC. At New York Minimally Invasive Surgery, we perform this procedure.

Sleeve gastrectomy or the gastric sleeve is a restrictive procedure that limits food intake by cutting and stapling a thin vertical section of the stomach to create a smaller and narrower stomach pouch. The remaining larger portion of the stomach is then permanently removed

Since a gastric sleeve requires the permanent removal of a large portion of the patient’s stomach, it is irreversible. However, unlike gastric bypass surgery, there is no rerouting of a part of the small intestine. This surgery has proven successful for many patients. They lose weight not only as a result of the physical changes they undergo during surgery but because of our office’s focus on follow-up care.

We believe in a whole-body approach to health and wellbeing; surgery is just one part of that. The bariatric surgery, whether it’s gastric sleeve, adjustable gastric band, i.e., the lap band, or another type of surgery, will limit the amount of food one can consume.

But the best results come from a combination of metabolic and bariatric surgery and a renewed focus on proper diet, nutrition and exercise.

This should result in the loss of excess weight, plus an improvement in obesity-related health problems, such as sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes.

Learn More About Gastric Sleeve NYC

The sleeve gastrectomy or vertical gastrectomy — also known by a shorthand term: gastric sleeve — removes approximately 70% of the stomach.

Gastric sleeve surgery is a relatively recent innovation in weight-loss surgeries. It was first performed right around the turn of the 21st century as the first stage of the biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch operation in patients who had more than 200 pounds to lose.

Because these patients were extremely and morbidly obese, doctors felt they would not tolerate a long operation that required multiple hours on the operating table. Performing the stomach re-section first results in a much shorter procedure.

The general idea was to make the stomach smaller (so that the patient wouldn’t be able to eat as much food) and then later perform the duodenal switch portion of the operation when it was safer for the patient to tolerate the rest of the procedure.

But then an interesting thing happened: When these original patients were a year out, it was found that some patients did not need a second stage of the duodenal switch operation. This was because they were losing weight with just the sleeve gastrectomy!

Because of these encouraging results, many bariatric surgeons began performing sleeve gastrectomies as a primary weight loss procedure.

As a result, this gastric sleeve surgery is now becoming more and more popular, especially since it’s also covered by most insurance policies. (With some exceptions, including Medicare.)

To learn more about weight loss surgery and the gastric sleeve procedure, click here to take our online seminar or to register for an in-person seminar.

To recap what we have learned about the gastric sleeve in NYC and elsewhere:

  • One-time Procedure
  • No Adjustments Needed
  • Minimally invasive surgical procedure
  • Sometimes covered by insurance
  • Not Reversible

Gastric Sleeve NYC: Results and Expectations

As we get older, our metabolism begins to slow down, making it more difficult to maintain a healthy weight even though we’re doing the same things we’ve always done.

If this natural process is combined with an unhealthy diet and little or no exercise, then the weight gain can be compounded.

Not everyone will qualify for bariatric surgery. But generally speaking, obese people and those who need to lose a significant amount of weight can do so with a combination of weight-loss surgery, nutrition and diet, and exercise.

With our expert team of NYC gastric sleeve experts, we can help you get started on the road to healthy weight maintenance and continued good health and nutrition.

This is what we mean by a whole-body approach to wellness; it takes into account a number of different factors. Weight loss surgery is just an early step in the process.

Diet and nutrition is crucial. As you become accustomed to fewer calories per meal, it can be challenging to get enough proteins, vitamins and minerals into your diet. We work with our patients to provide nutritional guidance to help them through this process.

Keep in mind that for the first two weeks post-op, patients will be limited to an all-liquid diet.

After about a year post-op, however, most patients have become comfortable with their new diet and its restrictions. By this point, too, most patients are eating solid foods again and have gradually begun increasing their exercise and physical activity.

You won’t be bed-bound, though. Most patients can return to normal, nonphysical activities almost immediately. Just take it slow and easy and listen to the recommendations from your surgeon and the team at New York Minimally Invasive Surgery.

Some final thoughts: While results vary, patients who undergo gastric sleeve surgery can expect to lose somewhere between 25% and 60% of their excess fat. This means some patients may lose 20 pounds or more in the first month after gastric sleeve surgery in NYC.

The gastric sleeve NYC experts at NYMIS are ready to help you. Get in touch with us today no matter where you are in the New York City area, including Long Island, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island.