Leading the field in weight loss surgery
Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Conveniently located to serve the areas of Napa, Sonoma, Marin and the Bay Area
Gastric sleeve surgery is a proven and highly effective weight loss procedure that involves the removal of a portion of the stomach. This part of the stomach produces the hunger hormone ghrelin, so the surgery leaves you feeling less hungry.
In addition, the reduced size of the stomach makes you feel full more quickly, helping you lose weight.
What is gastric sleeve surgery?
Gastric sleeve surgery (also known as a vertical sleeve gastrectomy or VSG surgery) is a weight loss procedure where a part of the stomach is removed through small incisions. The surgery works in three ways:
- Feel full faster. The procedure reduces the size of the stomach, causing you to feel full after eating a smaller amount of food;
- Less hunger. It diminishes production of the hormone ghrelin, which reduces your feelings of hunger; and
- Metabolic changes. It changes your metabolism, which can improve or cure diabetes and other metabolic diseases.
Combined with improved diet and exercise, gastric sleeve surgery can allow you to lose up to 75% of your excess weight within 12 months after surgery.
Sleeve gastrectomy live video. Warning: GRAPHIC CONTENT.
How effective is gastric sleeve surgery?
We have found gastric sleeves to be one of the most effective bariatric surgeries. This is because the procedure causes profound metabolic and hormonal changes that can be seen within weeks of surgery. These changes may lead to resolution of metabolic conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Moreover, vertical sleeve gastrectomy has also been shown to reduce a patient’s chance of sleep apnea, stroke, infertility, gastroesophageal reflux disease, cancer, and heart disease.
These changes may be sustained with dedication to an active, balanced lifestyle. The mindfulness and emotional awareness that Whole Health practitioners help to develop in our patients will optimize the effect of surgery. These tools will be applicable to all aspects of your life with no limit to the possible benefits.
At Whole Health Weight Loss, we provide real results for our patients. One of our patients who received a gastric sleeve procedure reached out to us and shared her life-changing experience. This procedure and the steps we provided her with set her up for success. Antoinette was able to take control of her weight and improve her life! Read Antoinette’s story
How much weight can I lose with gastric sleeve surgery?
Patients can lose up to 75% of their excess body weight — that is, your “overweight” weight — within the first year. So if a patient is 100 pounds overweight, they could lose up to 75 pounds in the first year.
Much of this weight loss happens in the first few months after surgery, provided you follow diet and exercise recommendations. Most patients reach their new equilibrium weight within 12 to 18 months after sleeve surgery.
Who are good candidates for gastric sleeves?
How much does gastric sleeve surgery cost?
The cost of gastric sleeve surgery depends greatly on your medical insurance and your treatment needs. In most cases, your out-of-pocket cost will be the amount of your insurance deductible.
To learn more, we highly recommend that you schedule an initial consultation with the bariatric surgery professionals at Whole Health Weight Loss Institute. After assessing your specific case and determining what options best meet your weight loss needs, they can provide you a cost breakdown for your personal treatment plan.
What are the possible risks of gastric sleeve surgery?
Gastric sleeves are one of the lowest risk weight loss surgeries, with quite low short- and long-term complication rates.
The most common complications are dehydration, heartburn, and nausea, which are all easily treatable with medication. More severe complications, which are rare, include narrowing of the stomach (stricture) and stomach leakage. These can often be treated without surgery, or using minimally invasive procedures.
Your surgeon will review the risks in detail with you during your consultation. In general, we find the benefits of this surgery, in terms of health and quality of life, well outweigh the potential risk.
What is recovery from gastric sleeve surgery like?
Gastric sleeve surgery usually requires an overnight stay in the hospital. Our patients are up and walking by the evening of surgery, and go home the following day. Patients are usually off of pain medication within a week.
We advise patients to avoid strenuous exercise or lifting anything over 15 pounds for a month after the procedure. Overall, we recommend that patients take two weeks off work after the surgery for recovery.
What will be my diet after gastric sleeve surgery?
After the surgery you will start on a liquid diet, including protein shakes. Within a couple of weeks, you will be eating soft foods like yogurt or cream or wheat. Eventually you will transition to a “paleo”-like diet consisting of high protein and non-starchy vegetables to help you lose weight in a gradual, healthy way.
How much experience does Whole Health have with gastric sleeve surgeries?
Dr. Scott Perryman is an experienced surgeons with many years experience in bariatric surgery. Read more about Dr. Scott Perryman and his credentials here.
How do I decide what weight loss surgery is right for me?
At your initial consultation, you will meet with one of our experienced weight loss surgeons and our dietitian. The surgeon will discuss all available bariatric procedures, associated anatomical changes, expected weight loss, required lifestyle changes, and your preoperative workup (such as lab tests).
Our dietitian will help you understand the immediate post-operative diet and diet progression. She will also provide useful tools such as how to read food labels, make healthy food choices, and design a sustainable diet that fits with your lifestyle.
Together we will review your options and make an appropriate treatment plan for you. The best way to get started, however, is to schedule a consultation with us to answer all your questions and consider your personal situation.
