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The gastric sleeve, also known as the vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG), is one of the most popular weight loss procedures in New Jersey, and the most performed weight loss surgery here at New Jersey Bariatric Center. 

We get a lot of questions about gastric sleeve surgery from how it helps you lose weight to the health benefits for the procedure. If you’re considering a bariatric surgery procedure, here’s 4 things to know about gastric sleeve: 

1. Gastric Sleeve Helps You Lose Weight in 2 Ways

First, gastric sleeve surgery jumpstarts weight loss by removing a portion of the stomach and narrowing the remaining part of the stomach into a thin “sleeve-like” tube. The reduced stomach size holds less food so you feel full faster, while still allowing for the digestion of key nutrients. The second way is that the gastric sleeve procedure reduces the secretion of ghrelins in your stomach. Ghrelins are hormones responsible for making you feel hungry. Patients on average can lose about 40-70% of their excess body weight after a gastric sleeve procedure. 

2. The Health Benefits Go Beyond the Numbers on the Scale

Not only does the gastric sleeve help you to lose weight, but it can also offer other health benefits and improvements for obesity-related conditions. In a study by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), after gastric sleeve surgery: 

• 77% of patients had resolution of Type 2 diabetes_^*
• 62% of patients had resolution of high blood pressure_^*
• 84% of patients had resolution of sleep apnea_^*

As with any surgery there are side effects and risks to weight loss procedures. To learn more, visit our Side Effects & Risks page.

3. Gastric Sleeve Surgery is performed Laparoscopically or Robotically-Assisted

During gastric sleeve surgery our surgeons make small incisions in the abdominal wall to remove 75-80% of the stomach. This reduces the capacity of the stomach to 3-4 ounces, resulting in patients feeling full, faster on a smaller portion of food. At New Jersey Bariatric Center the surgery is performed either laparoscopically or is robotically-assisted, and usually lasts approximately 1-2 hours.

4. Hospital Stays are Generally 1 Day 

Both methods - laparoscopic or robotic-assisted - of surgery involve smaller incisions through the stomach, which often leads to, for many patients, less pain and a short, 1 day hospital stay, in general. To learn more about recovery at home, post-surgery nutrition as well as returning to work and regular activity, click here.

For more questions about gastric sleeve or to schedule an appointment give us a call at 908-481-1270. To register for one of our free webinars, click here. 

*Metabolic and bariatric surgery. (2018, October). In the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Retrieved November 10, 2020, from https://asmbs.org/resources/metabolic-and-bariatric-surgery