Gastric sleeve surgery is necessary for people living with obesity to have a healthier and quality life in cases where diet and exercise do not work. It is also important in treating the fatal risks of obesity.

Gastric sleeve surgery treats obesity that negatively affects a person’s life and can have fatal consequences. In addition, it provides a healthy and longer life to the person by treating the concomitant diseases of obesity. In addition, it provides both psychological and physical recovery.

Since most of the stomach is removed with Gastric sleeve surgery, the person eats much less and gets full early. This allows the person to lose weight quickly.

Digestion takes place in the mouth, stomach, and intestines, respectively. Since sleeve gastrectomy is a surgical intervention on the stomach, it is directly related to the digestive system. Thanks to mechanical reduction, a saturation signal is transmitted to the brain with much fewer nutrients and active weight loss is achieved.

Gastric sleeve surgery gives successful results when it is performed under qualified conditions, by a specialist doctor and a well-equipped health center. It does not cause any harm to the digestive system.

Gastric sleeve surgeries take an average of 45 minutes.

Gastric sleeve surgery is performed over a certain weight. In this calculation, height and weight are evaluated together. In addition, other comorbidities such as diabetes, blood pressure problems are also effective in evaluation. It is necessary to make a personal evaluation.

Gastric sleeve surgery is performed over a certain weight. In this calculation, height and weight are evaluated together. In addition, other comorbidities such as diabetes, blood pressure are also effective in evaluation. However, a young age range and some diseases such as schizophrenia and type 1 diabetes are obstacles to having the surgery. It is necessary to make a personal evaluation.

It can be calculated by dividing the person’s body mass in kilograms by the square of their body length in meters.

Example: Height: 1,60 m

                 Weight: 50

Body Mass Index: 50 / 1,60×1,60

This calculation gives us an idea about the fat rate and body fat.

The body mass index limit is 35. However, for those with concomitant diseases such as type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, etc., and those who have failed weight-loss attempts before, if the body mass index is over 30 then the person may undergo a gastric sleeve surgery.

After the surgery, problems such as changes in bowel habits, insufficient weight loss, problems due to insufficient fluid or salt intake, formation of stone-mud in the gallbladder following losing weight, the occurrence of hernia in the operation sites, psychological problems and depression, and deficiency in some vitamins and minerals may occur. Therefore, postoperative follow-up is crucial.

The first 3 weeks after the surgery are important and most of the complications can be experienced during this period. Complications that may occur in the short term such as leakage from the staple line, life-threatening risk (0.2-0.5%), bleeding on the operation area (1%), skin incision infection, infection in the abdomen, clot formation in the leg veins-thromboembolism (1% ), lung infection and respiratory problems, abnormal heart rhythm, urinary tract infection, constipation, mild hair loss due to protein intake.

Although it is rarely seen after sleeve gastrectomy, vitamin B, iron, folic acid and vitamin D deficiency may develop.

Gastric sleeve surgery is a low-to-medium risk surgery. Complications may occur in sleeve gastrectomy, as in any surgery. The most serious complication that can be seen after sleeve gastrectomy is leakage from the remaining part of the stomach into the abdominal cavity. There is a slight possibility of bleeding from the cut stomach line into the stomach or into the abdomen in the early period. Postoperative thromboembolism, lung infection and wound infection are other risks that may occur. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can be seen in the first 1 month period.

Some risks can be seen in sleeve gastrectomy, as in any surgery. These may result from surgical complications and lack of follow-up. However, these rates are very low compared to many surgeries. At experienced centers, the risks are close to zero.

There is no known long-term harm of gastric sleeve surgery. Patients with sleeve gastrectomy should be carefully followed up by a professional team in terms of nutrition.

Operation-related life-threatening risk is reported to be around 3 per thousand (0.2% – 0.5%). The death rate is one in a thousand. This is a very low rate compared to many types of surgery. One of the most important factors here is whether the surgeon who performs the operation is experienced and expert of this surgery. At experienced centers, this rate is zero.

Leakage may occur for different reasons after the sleeve gastrectomy. Please read the subtexts for detailed information about the leak.

Postoperative leak development may be due to doctor’s mistake, nutritional violations, technical problems and insufficient tissue nutrition.

In case of postoperative leakage, general condition disorder, especially pain in the upper part of the stomach, fever, pain on left shoulder and back pain can be seen. There are more cases with only fever without abdominal pain. Symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, weakness, palpitations can also be signs of leakage.

During the operation, methylene blue is sent into the stomach to create pressure and the line is checked visually. One day after the operation, a radiopaque liquid is taken orally and in radiology, fluoroscopy or x-ray is taken to check whether there is any leakage in the stomach.

After the sleeve gastrectomy, the treatment of leakage should be made by expert surgeons in bariatric surgery. Leakage is a risk for the first three weeks after the surgery and has no chance of occurring later. Leakage treatment after sleeve gastrectomy is shaped according to criteria such as the general condition of the patient, whether the patient has sepsis, the amount of leakage, and the time of the leakage. The early diagnosis and early initiation of treatment are important. If the leakage develops, one or more methods such as re-operation, drainage, endoscopic stent insertion, nasojejunal tube, antibiotic treatment can be applied.

Bariatric surgery does not cause cancer. Bariatric surgery does not increase the risk of cancer. On the contrary, it reduces the risk of cancer. It is helpful and preventive in the treatment of obesity-related cancer types. It is curative and preventive for cancer types caused by obesity in the long term.

These diseases are not an obstacle to surgery. These are the diseases caused by obesity. With the surgery, healing improvement is seen.

Surgery treats comorbidities such as sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke risk, liver diseases, some types of cancer, joint pain, and heart attack.

Improvement was observed in diabetic patients after surgery. Many patients can stop using insulin and other diabetes medications.

While obesity is eliminated by sleeve gastrectomy surgery, the damages due to type 2 diabetes are also eliminated. Type 2 diabetes’s healing improves with weight loss.

There is an increase in the secretion of the hormone called GLP-1, which is released from the intestine with surgery. In addition, since the GLP-1 hormone eliminates insulin resistance in the liver, muscles and adipose tissue, it has been observed that the patients start to heal in a short time even before starting to lose weight and getting rid of diabetes. In addition, diabetes starts healing with a correct and balanced diet.

After surgery, sleep apnea heals quickly. In addition, significant improvement is observed in other lung diseases.

Since the surgery eliminates the sleep apnea problem, you will sleep in a night of more comfortable and qualified sleep. There is no insomnia problem.

The feeling of hunger is not felt in the first months because the fundus of the stomach, which produces hunger hormone, is removed surgically. However, between the 9th month and the 2nd year, the feeling of hunger comes back.

A special diet that transforms from liquid to solid is applied in the first month after the surgery. Later, the person needs to gain healthy eating habits in his/her life. Since high-calorie foods and unhealthy foods will cause weight gain again, the person should continue his/her life with a healthy nutrition program. Therefore, postoperative support should be available. Especially the calorie calculation and the nutrition program supported by sports will increase the success.

With the sleeve gastrectomy, you start to lose weight from the first month. The ideal weight is reached quickly compared to diet and other methods. A rapid weight loss is experienced in the first 18 months after the surgery. However, you will experience the fastest weight loss process in the first 6 months. Then, weight loss continues until the ideal weight is reached.

It is aimed to lose 10-15% weight in the first month after the sleeve gastrectomy. In the following months, the ideal weight is reached within months by decreasing 8% and gradually. In total, 90% of your excess weight will be gone within the first year.

Due to the fact that it is a laparoscopic (closed) surgery, there is no pain at a level that will reduce the quality of life. It is normal to observe mild to moderate pain for the first 6-8 hours after the operation; however, pain is minimal in laparoscopic procedures.

The pain will be gone on the second day after the operation. Pain relieves on the first day with painkillers. In addition, some people may have low-level gas pains in the first week. Again, under the supervision of a doctor, the pain of the person is relieved with painkillers.

Smoking is not recommended for the first 10 days after the surgery, and alcohol and coffee usage for the first month are not suggested.

If the dressed area is closed in a waterproof manner after the operation, the shower can be taken from the first day.

2-4 hours after the operation you can easily stand up.

The process of standing up after the operation is very fast. When you are discharged, you can return to work immediately if you are working at a desk, or within 2-3 weeks if you are working in jobs that require physical activity.

You can travel by plane on the fourth postoperative day. If a long journey exceeding two hours is to be made in the first month, it is necessary to wear anti-embolism socks or blood thinners during the trip.

There is no harm in driving after the first week after the surgery.

Regular low-paced walking can be done after the operation. Light exercises can be started after an average of one month. From the 45th day, it can be continued with muscle-strengthening exercises by gradually increasing weight and density.

There is no harm in having sexual intercourse after 2 weeks after the operation. However, it is necessary to avoid strokes and very intense movements to the abdominal area.

In the first 15 days after the surgery, it is inconvenient to lift heavy in order not to increase the intraabdominal pressure. From the 45th day, there is no harm in lifting weights.

With the surgery, the person loses weight quickly and the fat ratio in his/her body decreases. Fat in the body creates isolation against cold. In addition, the more body mass, the more energy is spent. This energy causes the body to heat up. Fat loss due to weight loss causes the fat around the body to decrease and produce less energy after the surgery. This causes cold in people who have surgery. This process returns to normal after 12-18 months.

Food consumption decreases due to the shrinkage of the stomach after the surgery. However, certain vitamins and minerals may decrease in the first month. In particular, Vitamin B12, multi-vitamins, calcium, and iron may be required. However, it is not necessary to use vitamins for life after sleeve gastrectomy. Nevertheless, the doctor determines the vitamins to be taken according to the need.

Blood checks are required on the 1st month, 2nd month, 3rd month, 6th month and 12th month and after the surgery. Other follow-ups can be done online.

If the person does not follow the diet and exercise program after the surgery, if he/she continues his/her preoperative nutrition and unhealthy life habits, he/she can regain the weight he/she has lost. However, it is very unlikely to return to old weight for the individual. Therefore, patients should be followed up by a professional nutrition team for a long time.

It is normal to have a certain amount of enlargement in the stomach after sleeve gastrectomy and it is necessary to keep weight loss at the ideal weight. However, in order to prevent excessive enlargement of the stomach, attention should be paid to nutrition programs and diet programs should be followed regularly. Thanks to the maintenance of correct eating habits, even if the stomach enlarges, healthy life can be continued.

The goal of losing weight is to reach the ideal weight. It is aimed to reach the ideal weight of the person in the first 12-18 months after the operation. Again, exercise and diet programs, comorbidities, gender, etc. can affect this period. As the person approaches to achieve the ideal weight for him/her, weight loss slows down and when the person reaches his/her ideal weight, weight loss stops.

Surgery allows the person to lose weight quickly. However, in order not to regain excessive weight, the person should apply a healthy diet and exercise programs. If the person returns to his/her previous unhealthy habits, it is possible for him/her to gain weight, although not as much as before.

Nutrition and exercise programs must be followed.

Routine checks should not be skipped.

The individual should be psychologically strong and support should be obtained if necessary.

All recommendations of the doctor should be followed.

In the long run, a healthy diet and lifestyle habits should be adapted.

Aesthetic stitches are applied with small incisions made on the body during the operation.

Aesthetic stitches are applied with small incisions made during surgery. Aesthetic stitches are not removed, they are absorbed by the body and disappear.

Post-operative recovery may vary from person to person. Within a week, the wounds are completely healed. However, stitch marks disappear in 3-6 months.

Sleeve gastrectomy takes place as a laparoscopic (closed) surgery. Millimetric incisions are made to the abdominal skin and closed with an aesthetic method. Therefore, there is no disturbing appearance on the person.

Since sleeve gastrectomy is a closed (laparoscopic) surgery, it does not leave any scars on the person’s body. Creams that speed up the healing process are suggested. Only those with very sensitive skin may have a level of scars that will not bother them.

The staples used in the surgery are titanium staplers, they are very thin and remain in the body. The body wraps them completely with healing tissue. They do not cause any harm to the body and do not beep at security gates like in airports.

Staples made of titanium are completely biocompatible metal and do not present any problems.

Since rapid weight loss is started after the surgery, skin sagging may occur. For this reason, sports and exercises to be done after surgery are very effective in minimizing sagging.

After sleeve gastrectomy, daily walks and swimming can be done for cooling. You can do brisk walking from the 30th day, and heavy physical exercises after the 45th day.

The more weight a person has, the more weight he/she loses. As the healthy weight is about to be achieved, weight loss slows down and then stops. This process takes place within 12-18 months. In addition, the person’s unhealthy and high-calorie diet also stops weight loss. Alcohol, high-sugar foods and drinks, sedentary life can be counted among the reasons that stop weight loss even after sleeve gastrectomy.

After the surgery, women can get pregnant. Gastric sleeve surgery provides hormonal regulation and increases the fertility rate.

It is recommended to wait at least 18 months after the operation before pregnancy.

Mothers with babies can undergo surgery at the end of the breastfeeding period, and if the baby is not breastfeeding, two months after birth.

After 18 months after the operation, you can get pregnant and the baby will not be harmed. There would be no vitamin and mineral deficiency in the baby.