Gastric sleeve, also known as sleeve gastrectomy, is a type of bariatric surgery that induces weight loss through restrictive means. Gastric sleeve surgery may be an option for obese individuals who have been unable to lose weight while maintaining a healthy diet and consistent exercise.

Hundreds of patients have trusted the award-winning bariatric surgeon at Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery to perform gastric sleeve surgery. Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery is a top bariatric facility less than three hours from Nashville, Tennessee.

If you would like to learn more about gastric sleeve surgery, our surgeon, or our facility, give us a call at (205) 833-6907.

Sleeve Gastrectomy

Sleeve gastrectomy is a minimally invasive procedure that is performed laparoscopically at Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery. Your surgeon, Dr. Long, will make five small incisions to the abdomen. He will use a laparoscope, a thin tool fitted with a high-resolution camera, and other specialty instruments to complete the procedure through these incisions.

During gastric sleeve surgery, Dr. Long will cut and permanently remove about 80 percent of the stomach. This procedure leaves a slender, banana-shaped stomach pouch that will be stapled shut. This new, smaller stomach has a lower capacity, thus restricting patients from consuming large quantities of food at one time.

The average surgery takes approximately one hour. Our team at Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery will provide you with medication to manage the pain and a specialized diet plan for the days following the procedure.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Gastric Sleeve

There are many advantages of gastric sleeve surgery:

  • In the United States, gastric sleeve is the most frequently performed bariatric surgery.
  • Gastric sleeve is a minimally invasive procedure that can be performed laparoscopically. As a result, surgeons can avoid large incisions, and patients can expect less pain.
  • The surgery is restrictive, limiting the amount of food you can consume. It can also limit the amount of hunger-stimulating hormone that your stomach produces.
  • In-time, patients can eat most foods they were eating before gastric sleeve surgery.
  • There are lesser associated risks when compared to gastric bypass, a more complicated surgery, and LAP-BAND or Orbera, which involves the use of foreign materials.
  • Your surgeon will not have to cut or alter the sphincter muscles that allow food to enter and exit the stomach. Damage to these muscles can cause issues of regurgitation and heartburn.
  • Your surgeon will not have to cut or alter the pyloric portion of your stomach, which lessens the onset of dumping syndrome.
  • Excess weight reduction is about 50-70% in the first two years post-procedure.

There are a few disadvantages to gastric sleeve surgery:

  • Over time, your stomach may stretch, and you may gain regain the weight.
  • Gastric sleeve surgery is non-reversible.
  • Gastric sleeve surgery is not malabsorptive.
  • This surgery is not suitable for those with severe reflux disease.

There is no one bariatric surgery that is right for everyone. You must do your research and speak with certified professionals, like those at Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery, to determine what is best for you.

Gastric Sleeve Surgeon Near Nashville, TN

When considering gastric sleeve surgery, you should find a qualified, knowledgeable, and certified bariatric surgeon. Dr. Long of Birmingham Minimally Invasive surgery is just that! And, fortunately, he is not far from Nashville, Tennessee.

Dr. Long is board-certified in general surgery and trained in laparoscopic and bariatric surgery. He has been performing gastric sleeve surgery since 2002 and has helped hundreds of patients achieve outstanding results.

You can schedule a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Long by phone at (205) 833-6907 or online via our contact form. At Birmingham Minimally Invasive, we can help determine if gastric sleeve surgery is right for you!

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