When we were researching whether the gastric sleeve was right for us, one of the biggest questions we had was simple – is it safe?
After all, removing around 75–85% of your stomach isn’t exactly a small decision. It’s a major operation, and one that should never be taken lightly. We wanted to understand exactly what the risks were, how often complications actually happen, and how those risks compared to staying obese – something that was already destroying our health.
Here’s what we discovered, both through our research and our own personal experience.
Understanding Gastric Sleeve Surgery
The gastric sleeve (or sleeve gastrectomy) is a type of bariatric surgery designed to help with long-term weight loss.
During the procedure, around three-quarters of the stomach is removed, leaving behind a smaller, tube-shaped section roughly the size and shape of a banana. This drastically limits how much food you can eat at once and also reduces levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin, which helps control appetite.
Most modern gastric sleeves are done laparoscopically – meaning through several small incisions rather than one large open cut. This makes recovery faster, pain and scarring much less severe, and the overall complication rate significantly lower than traditional surgery.
For us, recovery was relatively smooth. Both of us were up and walking within hours of surgery and discharged after a couple of days – sore, but manageable.
How Safe Is Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
Like any operation, gastric sleeve surgery carries risks – but it’s now considered one of the safest and most effective weight loss procedures available when performed by an experienced surgeon in a reputable facility.
Here are some of the main risks to be aware of:
Surgical and Short-Term Risks
- Bleeding: Rare, but can occur during or immediately after the operation.
- Infection: Possible at incision sites or internally, though modern protocols make this uncommon.
- Leaks: A leak from the staple line where the stomach is divided is one of the more serious complications and requires immediate medical attention.
- Blood Clots: There’s a small risk of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. You’ll usually be encouraged to get up and walk shortly after surgery to reduce this risk.
- Reaction to Anaesthesia: James actually experienced this – you can read about it in detail on our Aftercare page. It’s not common, but it does happen.
While these risks sound worrying, the mortality rate for gastric sleeve surgery is estimated at around 0.1–0.2%, similar to or even lower than routine operations such as gallbladder removal. Most patients have no major complications.
Long-Term Considerations
Even after recovery, there are a few longer-term issues to keep an eye on:
- Nutrient Deficiencies: Because your stomach capacity is smaller, it’s easy to fall short on key vitamins and minerals. Regular blood tests and lifelong supplements are important.
- Reflux or Heartburn: Some people develop or worsen reflux after surgery. If you already have this, you may be a better candidate for a bypass, which tends to reduce it.
- Dumping Syndrome: Less common with sleeves than bypasses, but possible – where food moves too quickly into the small intestine, causing nausea, diarrhoea, or dizziness.
- Psychological Changes: The mental side of surgery is huge. Rapid weight loss, shifting identity, and changed relationships with food can all take a toll. Emotional support is crucial.
Comparing the Risks: Surgery vs Obesity
When weighing up the safety of gastric sleeve surgery, the most important question isn’t “Is surgery risky?” – it’s “How risky is it compared to doing nothing?”
Before our operations, both of us were living with serious obesity-related conditions – liver failure, sleep apnoea, joint pain, fertility problems, and daily exhaustion. At one point, James weighed over 30 stone. Simple things like walking to the shops or going upstairs were painful and embarrassing.
Obesity carries far greater long-term health risks than the surgery itself:
- Heart Disease and Stroke: Obesity is a leading cause of both.
- Type 2 Diabetes: Chronic and progressive, with serious complications if left unmanaged.
- Hypertension: High blood pressure dramatically increases cardiovascular risk.
- Sleep Apnoea: Interrupted sleep that strains the heart and damages long-term health.
- Osteoarthritis: Extra weight puts constant pressure on joints, causing pain and mobility issues.
- Certain Cancers: Higher rates of bowel, breast, and endometrial cancers are linked to obesity.
- Reduced Quality of Life: Beyond the physical conditions, life just becomes smaller – you avoid activities, struggle to keep up with your kids, and lose confidence.
For us, these realities made the “risk” of surgery feel small by comparison. Within three months of our gastric sleeve procedures, every obesity-related medical issue we’d had was either gone or dramatically improved.
How to Minimise Risk
The biggest factor in safety isn’t the surgery itself – it’s who performs it and where. Here’s what we learned to look for:
1. Choose an Experienced Surgeon
Ask how many gastric sleeve surgeries they’ve performed and what their complication rates are. Experience matters more than anything else.
2. Check the Facility
Ensure it’s an accredited hospital or surgical centre with strong aftercare protocols.
When we chose Weight Loss Riga, we wanted to go beyond the UK-facing marketing – so we reached out to our company’s Riga office and asked our office manager to check the clinic’s reputation locally. They used Latvian search engines and local forums to dig deeper, and the results were reassuring: our surgeon was recognised as one of the top bariatric specialists in Europe with an excellent track record in Latvia.
That gave us the confidence we needed to go ahead.
3. Look for a Multidisciplinary Team
The best clinics include not just surgeons, but also dietitians, nurses, and psychologists who support you before and after the operation.
4. Commit to Follow-Up Care
The sleeve isn’t a “quick fix”. You’ll need regular follow-ups, blood tests, and sometimes therapy to stay healthy and emotionally balanced in the long run.
So… Is the Gastric Sleeve Safe?
Yes – when performed by a skilled surgeon in a reputable facility, the gastric sleeve is very safe.
It’s not risk-free, but the odds are heavily in your favour. The key is to understand what you’re signing up for, prepare properly, and commit to the lifelong changes it requires.
For us, it’s been completely life-changing. We both feel healthier, more energetic, and far more in control of our lives. The small risks we took have paid off a hundred times over.
If you’re considering the gastric sleeve, take your time, research thoroughly, and have open conversations with your GP and surgeon. You only get one body – and making an informed choice could change the rest of your life.
Disclaimer: This post is based on our personal experience and research. It is not medical advice. Always discuss your individual risks and suitability for surgery with a qualified healthcare professional.