Bariatric Surgery: Pros and Cons of Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Are you trying to lose weight, but have all the methods you have tried failed? Here, we explain the pros and cons of gastric sleeve surgery and its alternatives.

The path to weight loss is complicated. With the many restrictive diets that promise quick results, medications with off-label uses for weight loss, and lifestyle changes that fail to become habits, achieving a healthy weight is like riding a roller coaster.

One of the options to lose weight when exercise and diet do not work is to resort to bariatric surgery. This type of surgery is aimed at achieving weight loss in people who have morbid obesity or a severe medical condition that improves with the reduction of body mass and encompasses different surgical procedures.

Next, we will explain gastric sleeve surgery, its advantages and disadvantages, and what alternatives you can use without making an appointment in the operating room.

What Is Gastric Sleeve Surgery and When Is it Recommended?

Laparoscopic gastric sleeve, known simply as gastric sleeve, is one of the types of bariatric surgery that a surgeon can perform on eligible people. This surgical procedure consists of removing 70 to 80% of the stomach to lose its ability to store more food, as well as reducing the production of the appetite hormone, ghrelin.

Since such a large percentage of the stomach is lost, it stops having its bag shape and looks more like a sleeve, giving meaning to its name. This is one of the most requested bariatric surgeries. In general, the gastric sleeve procedure is usually done through laparoscopy since it is less invasive and the recovery period is shorter. However, it can also be performed through large incisions.

Now that we have talked about what gastric sleeve surgery is and how it is performed, it is essential to know who are candidates for this procedure:

• People whose body mass index is greater than 40.
• People whose body mass index is within the range of 35 to 39.9 and have a medical condition caused by obesity, such as sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, or high blood pressure.
• Some people may be candidates for gastric sleeve surgery if their body mass index is within the range of 30 to 34 if they have a severe condition related to being overweight.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

Before undergoing bariatric surgery, knowing the pros and cons is important to have a complete picture of the procedure. Below, we list a detailed comparison.

Pros of Gastric Sleeve Surgery

If you have thought about having gastric sleeve surgery, it is probably because you have heard of its many advantages, such as:

• One of the main pros of having gastric sleeve surgery is that you can lose excess weight.
• There is no risk of hernias or ulcers as in the case of gastric bypass.
• Helps control appetite.
• It is a quick and non-invasive procedure if done through laparoscopy.
• Helps in the control of medical conditions associated with obesity.
• It is a comprehensive procedure with support from psychologists, nutritionists, and surgeons.
• Has a low probability of causing anemia.
• You have a low chance of regaining lost weight.
• Positive results can be seen in the short and long-term.
• Has a lower risk of triggering venous thrombosis.

Cons of Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Like any surgery, the gastric sleeve surgery procedure has a risk of complications, such as:

• It is necessary to take vitamin supplements during the first months after surgery to combat nutrient deficiency.
• You may experience acid reflux.
• Chances of gastric leak.
• Likelihood of experiencing vomiting if food is not chewed properly.
• The stomach can recover its size if the amount of food is greater than necessary since it is forced; therefore, you can recover the weight.

Alternatives to Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Although bariatric surgery can help you lose weight in the long term, before considering it as your first option, you can try to reach a healthy weight through other options, such as:

Have a Healthy Lifestyle

One of the first options you can try before undergoing gastric sleeve surgery is to change your eating habits and get regular physical activity. Although bariatric procedures cause significant changes, to maintain them long-term, you must change your lifestyle, so if you start before opting for surgery, you can start losing weight, and it may not be necessary to go into the operating room.

Receive Therapy with a Specialist

In the case of people with eating disorders, receiving psychological care can help manage binge eating caused by anxiety and depression, which leads them to have eating habits that generate excess weight.

Take Prescription Medications to Lose Weight

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved certain medications to help you lose weight. These medications are generally branded and do not have a generic version, so their cost is high. Furthermore, due to their possible adverse effects, they must be taken under medical supervision and accompanied by a healthy diet and exercise.

Start a Weight Loss Program

A weight loss program can help you change your lifestyle and adopt healthy eating habits. The structure of the Yes You Can! program will help you achieve a healthy weight thanks to its 2+2+1 formula, where you can enjoy five meals a day reinforced by our dietary supplements and exercise. Additionally, being plant-based products, they are safe to consume.

Transform your Body and Improve your Health with Yes You Can!

Although at first glance it may seem attractive, now that you know the pros and cons of gastric sleeve surgery, you know that it does not have to be your first option. By starting the Yes You Can! transformation program, you will be able to have a healthy weight and change your lifestyle, helping to maintain weight loss in the long term.

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