A Gastric Sleeve Weight Loss Procedure: How Anne lost 51 lbs 

Ever since I was a teenager, I have always been overweight. Despite my efforts to lose weight with medications and exercise, the weight wouldn’t come off. When I lost one of my parents, things took a turn for the worse. The grief, stress and eating habits caused me to gain over 152 lbs. I didn’t realize how heavy I had become until trying to get on a ride at Six Flags Great Adventure.

Being told I wasn't allowed to get on a ride due to my weight was very embarrassing and that was the moment that changed everything for me. I decided to do something about it. That's when a friend recommended that I reach out to New Jersey Bariatric Center®. After meeting their team I ultimately chose to have the gastric sleeve procedure. In the last 6 months alone I’ve already lost 51 lbs and I’ve been receiving endless compliments. 

How Gastric Sleeve Surgery Helped Me Lose Weight

The gastric sleeve procedure helped me lose weight by removing a portion of my stomach and narrowing the remaining parts to the size of a banana. As a result, I ate less and felt fuller longer. With my smaller sized stomach, I consume smaller portions of food. The procedure also reduced the production of ghrelin-hunger hormones that made me feel less hungry. This made it easier to eat less and lose weight. 

NJ Bariatric Center’s Role in My Weight Loss Journey

NJ Bariatric Center has played a major role in my weight loss journey. Dr. Goyal, my gastric sleeve surgeon, has been extremely helpful. He explained the whole process to me thoroughly. The NJBC team was so on top of getting the approval from my insurance. They were constantly following up with me and my insurance company. They made sure they provided every required document for my gastric sleeve. As a result, my insurance company approved coverage in less than a month. My registered dietitian, Clarissa has been extremely helpful as well. I can’t thank her enough! I would absolutely recommend New Jersey Bariatric Center® to someone who is considering bariatric surgery for weight loss.

How My Life Has Changed Since The Gastric Sleeve Procedure 

My life has changed tremendously since my gastric sleeve. With 51 lbs gone, I feel self-confident. I’m able to walk into a room feeling like I own it because I have so much confidence in myself. My self-esteem is much better and I haven’t even reached 50% of my goal weight yet! When I’m at work, I no longer pick the last seat in a conference room, hoping that no one will notice me. Since my weight loss, I love the way I look!

Key Takeaways:

• Anne had always been overweight ever since she was a teenager. She tried weight loss medications and exercise, but they were unsuccessful.
• When she was told she was not allowed on a ride at Six Flags due to her weight, everything changed.
• Her friend told her about New Jersey Bariatric Center® and she took her recommendation, ultimately choosing to have a gastric sleeve procedure. 
• It’s now 6 months since having the gastric sleeve procedure and Anne lost 51 lbs so far. She loves the way she looks.

FAQs about Gastric Sleeve Surgery

• What is gastric sleeve surgery?

Gastric sleeve surgery is the most common weight loss procedure performed in the US, and the most frequent bariatric surgery performed at New Jersey Bariatric Center®. It jumpstarts weight loss for people in NJ by removing a portion of the stomach and narrowing the remaining parts to the size of a banana or a thin vertical “sleeve.” Gastric sleeve also causes the secretion of fewer hunger hormones, or ghrelin. This results in less overall hunger leading to weight loss. 

• How much is gastric sleeve surgery?

Without insurance, on average, in New Jersey the cost of gastric sleeve procedures range from $8,500 to $18,500. The cost depends on each person's individual needs and the procedure. The self-pay costs in NJ typically include hospital or surgery center fees, anesthesia fees, pre-operative lab work, 1 year of post-operative visits, 1 year of nutrition counseling and exercise classes. 

• How long does it take to lose weight after gastric sleeve surgery?

It typically takes 12 months for patients to lose, on average, 40-70% of their excess body weight after gastric sleeve surgery. 

• Is gastric sleeve surgery safe?

While all surgical procedures have risks, gastric sleeve surgery has been found to be one of the safest surgeries when compared to other surgeries. At New Jersey Bariatric Center®, our gastric sleeve surgeries are done laparoscopically and robotically-assisting, with small incisions to subsequently reduce the risk of complications. In general, weight loss surgery has complication and mortality rates comparable to some of the safest and most commonly performed surgeries in the U.S. including gallbladder surgery, appendectomy and knee replacement (0.1% and 4%, respectively¹). At NJBC, we have a zero mortality rate. 

Source

1. Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. (2018, October). Retrieved September, 2020 from http://asmbs.org/resources/metabolic-and-bariatric-surgery.