What is a Gastric Sleeve?

A gastric sleeve is a surgical procedure, which is carried out to help people to lose weight. It works by reducing the size of the stomach by around about 75%. It is called a sleeve because after the surgery the stomach is reduced to a long cylindrical tube or sleeve rather than being round.

Who is Suitable for Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

As it is a major surgical procedure the gastric sleeve is only used for obese patients. The rationale is that somebody who is clinically obese and cannot lose weight any other way needs help. Without help they will quickly find that their health deteriorates and there will be more likely to suffer from life-threatening diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Under these circumstances, even full-blown surgery is preferable to leaving them in their current predicament.

A growing number of obese patients have to undergo this surgery. This is because they cannot lose weight simply by using exercise and diet. Their metabolism and bodies simply will not allow them to do so. Once done a gastric sleeve procedure cannot be undone.