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Gastric Sleeve Surgery Perth

What is Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

Gastric sleeve surgery involves removing a large part of your stomach to decrease the amount of food you’re able to consume. The procedure enables you to gradually lose weight as your meal sizes are restricted and your calorie intake is reduced.

After surgery, your body will produce lower levels of the hunger hormone Ghrelin. This means you will feel less hungry and will be less likely to experience food cravings.

A sleeve gastrectomy will also accelerate gastric emptying. Nutrients will get delivered to your small intestine earlier, increasing your satiety hormones and making you feel full even after very small meals.

  • Expected excess weight loss: 60 – 70 % of excess weight

  • Average procedure time: 45 – 60 minutes

  • Average recovery time: 2 weeks

 

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It all starts with an easy consultation

Weight-loss expectations from Sleeve Gastrectomy 

Typically, you should expect to lose up to 70% of your excess weight with Gastric Sleeve Surgery.

From your baseline starting position, the sleeve gastrectomy often leads in 25 to 35 percent body weight loss or 50 to 70 percent excess weight loss (The difference between your ideal weight and your present weight is your excess body weight). Some people lose less whilst others lose more than 70% of their excess weight.

Eligibility for Gastric Sleeve Surgery

You may be eligible for gastric sleeve surgery if you meet the following criteria.

While you will need to get medical advice from a specialist bariatric surgeon before proceeding with any weight loss procedure, you may be eligible for gastric sleeve surgery if you meet the following criteria.

You are aged between 18-65 years.

Your BMI (Body Mass Index) is higher than 35kg/m2.

You have not had success with traditional weight loss methods in the past (diet, exercise, etc.)

You have weight-related health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or sleep apnea.

If you would like to find out whether you’re a candidate for gastric sleeve surgery, get in touch with our team today.

Dr. Siva can review your personal situation and recommend a course of action that will help you achieve the best possible outcome.

Contact us to arrange your initial consultation.

Gastric Sleeve Surgery FAQs

How much does Gastric Sleeve Surgery Cost?

At Perth Obesity Solutionsthout-of-pocket costs for a sleeve gastrectomy are generally between $3,500 to $4,000. This includes payments to the assistant as well. We do offer a direct debit plan which we can discuss with you during your initial consultation.  

Am I eligible for Gastric Sleeve surgery?

While you will need to get medical advice from a specialist bariatric surgeon before proceeding with any weight loss procedure, you may be eligible for gastric sleeve surgery if you meet the following criteria.

Your BMI (Body Mass Index) is higher than 35kg/m2.

You have not had success with traditional weight loss methods in the past (diet, exercise, etc.)

You have weight-related health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or sleep apnea.

If you would like to find out whether you’re a candidate for gastric sleeve surgery, get in touch with our team today.

Dr. Siva can review your personal situation and recommend a course of action that will help you achieve the best possible outcome.

Contact us to arrange your initial consultation.

What happens during a vertical sleeve gastrectomy?

While you’re under general anaesthesia, Dr. Siva will make small cuts in your abdomen, with the largest incision being around 2cm. A keyhole camera known as a laparoscope is then introduced along with very thin instruments.

Your stomach is freed up from its attachments and a sizing tube called a bougie is inserted to accurately calibrate the size of your gastric sleeve. Next, a stapling device is used to seal and divide your stomach. The excised part of your stomach is sent off to be analysed in the lab and your incisions are then closed with absorbable stitches.

Is the procedure painful?

We use a local anesthetic at the incision sites to help with your pain. Our bariatric anesthetist will also prescribe sufficient pain medication to keep you comfortable.

After surgery, patients may experience some discomfort in their shoulders as the gas used for the surgery stretches the diaphragm, but this usually settles in 1-2 days.

You may also have discomfort just below your breastbone from the use of the instrument that lifts up the liver. This is done to ensure Dr. Siva can safely operate on the stomach below and any associated pain after surgery should also settle in 1-2 days.

Lastly, you could experience discomfort just to the right of your belly button. This is due to the deep stitches used to close your fascia, which is the tough layer of tissue that covers your muscles. It’s important to fully close this area as otherwise, it increases your risk of a hernia. It may take up to a week for pain in this area to resolve.

What are the risks of a gastric sleeve procedure?

All surgeries come with a certain level of risk. With the sleeve gastrectomy, there is a very low risk of complications following your surgery.

Bleeding or infection – less than 1%.

Leakage from the join or staple lines – between 1-2%.

Strictures or narrowing of the sleeve – 5%.

In the longer term, there is a risk of developing health concerns related to nutritional deficiencies. It’s very important that you take your supplements and maintain regular follow ups.

After 10 years, 20-25% of patients will need another operation due to weight regain or reflux. Heartburn can occur in 10% of patients as there is more pressure on the narrow tube of stomach.

Some patients may also experience lose abdominal skin; however, core exercises can be used to help tighten the area.

What diet must be followed after gastric sleeve surgery?

During your initial recovery, you will need to follow a post-surgery diet plan.

You will start with a liquid diet before progressing to pureed and softer foods. In most situations, you will be able to have a normal diet after 5 weeks.

Once you have recovered, it’s important to maintain a healthy, balanced diet to get the best results from your procedure.

At Perth Obesity Solutions, we will guide you step by step to help you manage your diet at every stage.

How long does it take to recover from gastric sleeve weight loss surgery?

As everyone is different, recovery time can vary from patient to patient, depending on your level of health.

In most cases, you will be able to resume your normal routine a few weeks after the procedure.

It’s important to follow our advice post-surgery to ensure you experience a smooth recovery.

How often will I need to see the Perth Obesity team post surgery?

CLINIC FOLLOW-UP

  • 2 weeks post-surgery
  • 1 month post-surgery (Phone call)
  • 3 months post-surgery
  • 6 months post-surgery (with blood tests)
  • 1 year post-surgery (with blood tests)
  • Yearly thereafter

Take your first step towards your best life with a team of expert bariatric surgeons

At Perth Obesity Solutions, we can help you decide whether gastric sleeve surgery is the right option for you.

As there are several weight loss procedures available to you, our highly experienced surgeon Dr Siva Sundararajan will advise the most suitable surgery for your needs. No matter whether you proceed with the gastric sleeve or another procedure, Dr Siva and our team will support you throughout every stage of your health journey.

Getting Prepared for Gastric Sleeve Surgery

In the lead up to your surgery, you will have plenty of time to mentally and physically prepare for your life-changing surgery. While the risks of Gastric Sleeve surgery are fairly low, it is always a good idea to follow some simple steps that will reduce the chance of any surgical complications. That is why we have prepared some generic advice below for our patients.

Your team will provide you with many more resources upon consultation.

Minimising Risk: Losing weight before surgery

Losing weight prior to gastric sleeve surgery is believed to be associated with fewer complications post-surgery. We will often recommend weight loss of around 10% as a pre-requisite for the operation, but this is entirely dependent on each patient.

Shrinking your liver is important for the safety of your surgery procedure

If you’re currently obese, your liver most likely has an accumulation of fat cells both in and around it. This makes it larger than it should be. Your liver is located right next to your stomach. A too-large liver makes gastric sleeve surgery harder for your doctor to do, and more dangerous for you to have done.

The Day Before Your Surgery

It is important that you do not eat or drink anything the evening before your surgery.

On the morning of the day before surgery, you will need to begin a clear liquid diet. This will help make the stomach and intestines easier to handle during the operation.

The night before surgery, take a long shower or bath and clean your abdomen 3 to 4 times with soap and water. Pay special attention to cleaning your belly button area-use a q-tip.

Do not eat or drink anything after midnight on the evening before surgery. You may take those medications approved by anaesthesia with a sip of water as needed.

What to Expect During Your Gastric Sleeve Procedure

It is totally normal to be nervous in the lead up to your surgery, but we want you to know that we will make sure you are comfortable through the whole process. While all surgeries are risky, with the sleeve gastrectomy, there is a very low risk of complications following your surgery. You can rest knowing that after the surgery is complete, you will be at a far lower risk of many much more dangerous weight related illnesses. 

Comfort During Surgery

Your comfort during surgery is our teams priority.

We use a local anesthetic at the incision sites to help with your pain. Our bariatric anesthetist will also prescribe sufficient pain medication to keep you comfortable.

After surgery, patients may experience some discomfort in their shoulders as the gas used for the surgery stretches the diaphragm, but this usually settles in 1-2 days.

You may also have discomfort just below your breastbone from the use of the instrument that lifts up the liver. This is done to ensure Dr. Siva can safely operate on the stomach below and any associated pain after surgery should also settle in 1-2 days.

Lastly, you could experience discomfort just to the right of your belly button. This is due to the deep stitches used to close your fascia, which is the tough layer of tissue that covers your muscles. It’s important to fully close this area as otherwise, it increases your risk of a hernia. It may take up to a week for pain in this area to resolve.

Risks During Surgery

With the sleeve gastrectomy, there is a very low risk of complications following your surgery.

All surgeries come with a certain level of risk, but we want you to know that this is a very safe procedure. Below are the common complication rates:

Bleeding or infection – less than 1%.

Leakage from the join or staple lines – between 1-2%.

Strictures or narrowing of the sleeve – 5%.

Recovering from Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Post-surgery, your priority should be recovery. You will receive instructions for diet and exercise from your team and can soon enjoy significant improvements to your quality of living, but you need to be ready to actively take steps with your diet to lose weight and keep it off. Here is a breakdown of what you can expect after your successful procedure.

Your First Week after surgery

Managing Your Pain

As the anaesthesia wares off and you start to move a bit more, your pain may become more noticeable. Pain medications should keep this pain at a tolerable level and moving into certain positions will provide comfort. Patients experience the most [pain between days three to six as this is generally when you start to become more active. Pain should slowly ease day by day and respond well to pain medications provided.

Managing Your Diet

Following your surgery you’ll continue with the same clear liquid diet you followed in the days leading up to surgery. Avoid sugar, caffeine & carbonated drinks, which can all cause postoperative complications such as; bowel obstruction, gastric leakage, diarrhea, constipation, and dehydration.

Getting a good night’s sleep

Sleep may be painful following your surgery, but it is important you rest to promote a quick recovery. You must avoid sleeping on your stomach for at least three weeks after gastric sleeve surgery to avoid complications. Your surgeon may recommend sleeping in a semi-seated position or laying on your side or you’re back for the first 15 days post-surgery. In order to remain comfortable while sleeping, you can try sleeping on your back and side with a supportive pillow. This will keep your spine aligned and reduce your chances of turning onto your stomach in your sleep.

Caring for your wounds

Wound care is essential for preventing infection post-surgery. The most important steps to remaining infection-free are washing your hands anytime you touch your wounds or dressings, replacing your gauze pads with fresh ones when removed, and avoiding any creams or ointments, even antibacterial ones.

Exercising

Exercising is your greatest tool for gaining back your strength back after surgery, but you should be extremely careful to stay safe while your body is repairing. For your first two weeks after surgery, only attempt a little movement, 5-10 minutes of walking at a time a few times a day.

Life After Your Sleeve Gastrectomy

It is crucial to remember your life will be changing drastically in many positive ways after gastric sleeve surgery. But, as great as you may feel, it’s important to know how the body and your lifestyle will need to change to accommodate a new, smaller stomach.

Returning to Work After Surgery

You could be back to work in as little as 2 weeks

Typically, we recommend that patients wait between 2-4 weeks before returning to work. This only applies to jobs that do not require regular strenuous activity, a waiting period of at least 6 weeks is required for jobs that include lifting over 25 pounds.

 

Health Concerns After Surgery

Nutritional deficiencies

Post-surgery, there is a risk of developing health concerns related to nutritional deficiencies.

For this reason, it’s very important that you take your supplements and maintain regular follow-ups with your team. You will be referred to a dietitian who specialises in bariatric procedures.

After 10 years, 20-25% of patients will need another operation due to weight regain or reflux. Heartburn can occur in 10% of patients as there is more pressure on the narrow tube of stomach.

Some patients may also experience loose abdominal skin; however, core exercises can sometimes be used to help tighten the area.

 

Gastric Dumping

Dumping syndrome occurs when food is “dumped” directly from your stomach pouch into your small intestine without being digested. Dumping syndrome is divided into two types: early and late. 10 to 30 minutes after a meal, you will experience early dumping. 1 to 3 hours after eating, late dumping occurs.

 

How Long Does a Gastric Sleeve Last?

This surgery is irreversible as part of the stomach is removed from the body.

Over the long term, the sleeve may stretch ultimately increasing the stomachs capacity over time. This can be resolved by several rescue procedures including:

  • re-sleeving the stomach,
  • using sutures to reduce the stomach,
  • placing a Gastric Band around the top, or
  • converting to a Gastric Bypass procedure.

Weight Loss Expectations

Weight loss after 3 months

You’ll stick to the post-operative diet and progressively move from liquid to solid food. As a result, you should expect a rapid weight loss in the first three months after surgery. You could lose 25-35 percent of excess weight in the first few months.

Each person loses weight at their own rate. The outcomes are not always consistent and may not be typical.

Weight loss after 5 months

At this point in your journey, you’re still losing weight, but at a slower rate. Most patients will lose an average of 45-55 percent of your excess body weight in the first six months after surgery.

Weight loss after 1 year

After the first year, the rate of weight loss will decrease, and after 18-24 months most patients will have reached their desired weight.

Getting Back to a Normal Diet

Solid food can resume six weeks after bariatric surgery

Most patients are able to resume a normal solid food diet six weeks after bariatric surgery. You can consume practically any type or texture of food with your gastric sleeve. Every day, you should have three well-balanced meals.

Despite the recommended restrictions on certain foods and beverages, there are still plenty of normal food options that you can consume.

All information on this page is general advice. Our team will support you throughout every stage of your health journey and tailor a surgery and recovery plan to your needs.

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