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Sleeve gastrectomy is a type of weight-loss surgery where the size of your stomach is reduced by removing the lateral two-thirds of the stomach (approximately 75-85%) and shaping the remaining stomach into a tube or ‘sleeve’.  The operation limits the amount of food you can eat at any given time but without altering the normal absorption of the vitamins and minerals.  On average, patients tend to lose 50-60% of their excess body weight with this procedure. 

Why choose a sleeve gastrectomy?

• During a sleeve gastrectomy the nerves of the stomach are not altered, preserving the function of the stomach.
• The rest of the gastrointestinal tract is not altered, so the food ingested follows the normal course and a reduced chance of side effects.
• The procedure decreases hunger significantly by removing the part of the stomach that produces the main stimulating hormones.
• Fewer clinic follow-ups than with the gastric band.

See our handy guide to help you compare weight-loss operations.

About the procedure

The operation is done as a laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery procedure under general anaesthetic.  It usually takes one to two hours.

The operation involves dividing the stomach along its vertical length from top to bottom in order to create a ‘sleeve’ or banana-shaped stomach along the inside curve.  The excess stomach is removed but the pyloric valve (which regulates the emptying of the stomach into the small intestine) remains intact at the bottom of the stomach. 

The sleeve gastrectomy is a relatively new operation that can be performed either as a standalone procedure or as part of a staged operation for very large patients (BMI of over 60).  In these patients, the second operation (a gastric bypass) is then done several months later when the patient has lost a significant amount of weight and the risks associated with having further surgery are much less.

Is the procedure reversible?

The sleeve gastrectomy operation is considered to be a permanent weight-loss procedure.

Your recovery

You will normally need to stay in hospital for about two to three days after the operation.  Full recovery from a sleeve gastrectomy can take two to three weeks.

What are the risks?

Sleeve gastrectomy is generally a safe operation.  Side-effects are mostly temporary but include:

• Some bruising, pain and swelling of the skin around the healing wounds.
• Feeling or being sick after eating, especially if you try to eat too much.
• In the long term, your restricted diet may cause some shortage of nutrients like iron, calcium and vitamins, so you may need to take multivitamin/mineral tablets indefinitely.

As with any operation, there are risks associated with having a general anaesthetic but specific complications which may occur during or after a sleeve gastrectomy operation include:

• Damage to other organs in your abdomen which may need further surgery to repair.
• The staple line along the stomach could leak in the first few days and may require further surgery to repair.
• The gastric ‘sleeve’ could narrow or form ulcers after surgery and you may need an endoscopy or further surgery to fix it.
• There is a risk you may develop gallstones if you lose weight quickly.
• There is a chance your surgeon may need to convert your keyhole procedure to open surgery which means making a bigger cut on your abdomen.