One of the major concerns we had when researching whether the gastric sleeve was right for us was whether it was a safe procedure aftercall removing 75-85% of your stomach better be safe. However, as with any surgery, there are risks to be weighed against benefits. But how safe is gastric sleeve surgery? Let’s dive into what this procedure entails, the risks associated with it, and how those stack up against the health dangers of obesity.
Understanding Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Gastric sleeve surgery is a type of bariatric surgery meant to provide long-lasting weight loss. During the surgery, the surgeon removes about 75-85% of the stomach, which limits how much food it can hold. Once you eat food with this tiny stomach, you will only be able to eat until your stomach feels full, which will consequently mean fewer calories and reduced weight over time.
It is usually done laparoscopically, which means it’s minimally invasive, and just small incisions are made instead of making a large open cut. This generally leads to shorter length of recovery, having less pain, and a lower complication rate compared to traditional open surgery.
The Safety of Gastric Sleeve Surgery
The surgery, like all surgeries, has some risks; it is still considered generally safe when done by an experienced surgeon in a reputable medical facility. Here are the key points to consider while thinking about safety in gastric sleeve surgery:
Bleeding: Although rare, bleeding can occur during or after surgery. Infection: This is a general complication of any surgery, where there is a risk in the incision sites or inside the abdominal cavity. Leaks: One of the more serious complications can be a leak from the staple line where the stomach was cut and stapled. This might lead to infection and require immediate medical attention.
Blood Clots: There is a risk of blood clots, especially in your legs (deep vein thrombosis) or lungs (pulmonary embolism). Often, doctors will have patients walk around shortly after their operation to lower this risk.
Adverse Reaction to Anaesthesia: As with all surgeries, there is a slight possibility of an adverse reaction to anaesthesia, James has this, you can read about it on our aftercare page.
These risks are real, but they tend to be relatively low, especially if the surgery is done by an accomplished surgeon. The majority of people have the procedure with no major complications arising.
Long-Term Considerations Besides the immediate surgical risks
Nutrient deficiencies: In many cases, supplementation may be required lifelong, along with long-term follow-up.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease: This may be newly developed or exacerbated after the surgery; this is variable from person to person, if you already have this you should look into a bypass which prevents this from happening.
Dumping Syndrome: Food may move from the stomach into the small intestine too rapidly, with potential nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and even dizziness. It is more common after gastric bypass surgery but can occur after a sleeve, as well.
Psychological Impact: The psychological impact of such rapid weight loss and enormous lifestyle alteration post-operative can indeed be very challenging. Ongoing support is important to help deal with these changes.
Obesity vs. Surgery: Considerations of Health and Lifestyle
In weighing the safety of gastric sleeve surgery, one must consider the balance that it strikes with the alternative to such surgery: living with obesity. There is a list of serious health concerns that may be associated with obesity; these include but are not limited to the following:
Heart Disease: Obesity is indeed linked to heart diseases such as heart attack and stroke.
Type 2 Diabetes: This is one of the major complications due to obesity, which in turn leads to further complications such as kidney diseases, damage to the nerves, and problems related to vision. Hypertension: This cardiovascular disease is invited by the extra weight itself, which can heighten the risks for heart diseases and stroke.
Sleep Apnoea: It is directly linked to sleep apnoea, a condition wherein one’s sleep is typified with stop-and-start breathing, thus causing poor quality of sleep and potential problems with the heart. It further raises the risk of several bone disorders like osteoarthritis since every excess kilogram of body weight can put additional pressure on the bones, particularly those in the knees and hips. Being obese increases a person’s chance of developing a range of cancer types including cancers of the breast, colon, and endometrium.
General quality of life: this isnt a medical condition but having been obese, 30 stone at one point, you have a reduced quality of life, walking upstairs is a hassle and painful, walking to the shops is a nightmare, going on holiday with children and having to take breaks all the time when the kids just want to play on rollercoasters or whatever is embarrassing, if your obese and reading this, you probably know exactly what we mean.
Weight loss resulting from the surgery may lead to the improvement of obesity-related conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and sleep apnoea. To many, the benefits of surgery will greatly outweigh the risks, considering the serious health consequences of untreated obesity, for us all our medical conditions from obesity were gone within 3 months!
Minimising Risks: Choosing the Right Surgeon and Facility
Selection of a highly competent surgical specialist and a reputable medical treatment facility is one of the most important ways to ensure the safety of the gastric sleeve surgical operation. What to look for in this regard includes:
Experienced Surgeon: The surgeon should be one who has experience with bariatric surgery and has performed a large number of gastric sleeve surgeries. In many ways, experience greatly helps in minimizing complications and arriving at the best results.
Accredited Facility: Make sure the surgery will be performed at an accredited hospital or surgical facility meeting the highest standards for patient safety and care.
Multidisciplinary Care Team: The topmost bariatric programs will have a multidisciplinary care team, including surgeons, dietitians, and psychologists-all of whom can help support you through every stage of your surgical journey.
Ongoing Support after Surgery: One would want to find a program that offers follow-up appointments, nutritional counselling, and support groups well beyond the initial stages of surgery. It helps one understand how to navigate life’s challenges after having surgery and helps sustain one’s weight loss.
Generally speaking, the surgery is safe, but there are two pivotal qualifications: It has to be done by an experienced surgeon and performed in a reputable facility. Of course, there is some risk, but this has to be weighed against the severe health risks of obesity. For many, gastric sleeve surgery will offer the way to better health, improved quality of life, and a longer, more active life, it absolutely did for us.
If you are considering gastric sleeve surgery, an in-depth discussion with your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of this surgery is important, weighing them against your current health and lifestyle. You can make an informed decision on committing to the necessary lifestyle changes that help in maximising the benefits offered by the surgery for a successful long-term outcome.