Gastric Sleeve Surgery

During a sleeve gastrectomy, your bariatric surgeon will remove up to 80% of your stomach and form the remaining part into a tube that resembles a sleeve.

Your significantly smaller stomach reduces the amount of food you can eat and drink, initially to about half a cup at a time. Your smaller stomach also produces less of the "hunger" hormones that affect your appetite and metabolism. The combination of being able to eat less and wanting to eat less results in significant weight loss. 

Laparoscopic or Robotic Sleeve Gastrectomy
In most cases, your surgeon will make small incisions in your abdomen through which instruments, including a video camera, are passed to visualize the area and perform the procedure. This minimally invasive surgery approach:

• Shortens your hospital stay (typically one night)
• Leaves small scars
• Helps you recover quickly and with less pain 

Is Gastric Sleeve Right for You?
Your surgeon will conduct a comprehensive evaluation to determine if gastric bypass or another weight loss procedure is the right choice for you.

As your lifelong partners in this journey, our team of bariatric specialists -- surgeons, dietitians, psychologists, exercise physiologists, and others -- support you before, during, and after your surgery so you can be fully prepared. We want you to meet your goals and live life to its fullest.

Overall Weight Loss Surgery Benefits
The long-term success of bariatric surgery depends on your ability to make permanent changes in your diet, behavior, and exercise. When those changes take place, studies show that people who undergo bariatric surgery:

• Live longer
• Experience fewer health problems, including reduced cardiovascular risk, less sleep apnea, and less joint-related pain
• Enjoy improved quality of life

Your surgeon will discuss additional benefits specific to the gastric sleeve surgery with you. 

Expected Weight Loss for Gastric Sleeve Procedure
The average person loses about 50% to 70% of their excess weight over 12 to 18 months. Over time, people appear to experience less weight loss when compared to gastric bypass.

Gastric Sleeve Advantages

• All foods can be tolerated in small amounts.
• There is no dumping syndrome, which can occur with gastric bypass surgery.
• There are fewer issues with ulcers among people who take NSAIDs (like ibuprofen) or steroids.
• Gastric sleeve can lead to more than 50% improvement in Type 2 diabetes at 1 year.

Learn more about other common types of weight loss surgeries and their overall benefits.

A gastric sleeve procedure is considered safe; complications and death are rare when it's performed by a competent surgeon. The following complications may occur.

Failure to Lose Weight and Weight Regain
This may occur because the stomach pouch is too large, lifestyle habits don’t change, or "hunger" hormones increase. In addition, because the pouch can expand over time, the amount of food you can eat can increase, which can lead to weight loss stopping and the start of weight gain.

It Is Not Reversible
Removing a large portion of your stomach cannot be reversed.

Smaller Stomach Leaks
Leaks may occur shortly after surgery or, in rare cases, years following surgery. 

Internal Hernia and Ulcers May Occur
 The risk is lower than with gastric bypass.

Acid Reflux or GERD Are Common
These conditions often require medication.

Malnutrition
May result from the dramatic decrease in food intake. This may be addressed through diet and nutritional supplements. 

Constipation
Can lead to abdominal pain but can be treated with a stool softener.