Gastric sleeve surgery is a type of weight loss surgery. Weight loss surgery is also called bariatric surgery. This surgery is also known as sleeve gastrectomy.

It is performed as laparoscopic surgery by making small incisions in the upper abdomen. Most of the left part of the stomach is removed. The food empties from the bottom of the stomach into the small intestine, as before the surgery. The small intestine is not operated or changed. The new stomach, which looks like a "sleeve", is much smaller than the original stomach. Reducing stomach size reduces the amount of hormones responsible for controlling appetite and insulin. Therefore, the person's appetite will decrease and insulin resistance will improve after the operation. The person will eat less, feel more satiated than before, and will be less hungry.

Gastric sleeve surgery is performed for people with a high body mass index and considered obese. Mostly patients with a body mass index above 35 are suitable for this surgery. The patient, whose medical history is taken, is consulted with the doctor and if the doctor approves, the patient is suitable for surgery.

A low-calorie and protein-based diet can be followed before the surgery.

It is recommended to quit smoking at least 1 month before the surgery.

You need to be nil by mouth at least 8 hours before surgery.

Some medications, such as blood thinners and aspirin, should be discontinued before surgery. It is absolutely necessary to get confirmation and advice from the doctor for the use of medications before and after the surgery.

After surgery, you will stay in the hospital for 3-4 nights so that doctors and nurses can monitor your recovery. They will give you medicine for pain and nausea, help you get up and move around the room, and make sure you can drink fluids without vomiting.

Patients usually recover within a week after this operation. But it will take several weeks to eat normally again. To get used to a smaller stomach, you will need to follow a special diet that will start with liquids only. Our dietitian will give you an eating plan that gradually progresses to solid foods. For example:

For the first 2-3 weeks after surgery, you will receive all your nutrition from high protein drinks.

For the next two weeks, you will eat foods in the form of baby food.

Finally, you will switch to softer foods for a few weeks before returning to eating normal foods.

You will also continue to take protein and multivitamin supplements for a short time.

Weight loss cannot be started directly after the operation. At the end of 1 month, 2.3 st can be lost. Then, after 3 months, 6.2 st can be lost. After 6 months, 7.8 st can be lost. These figures may vary from patient to patient, depending on the weight of the person before the surgery.