Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy

Vertical sleeve gastrectomy, also called vertical gastric sleeve, is rapidly becoming the most common bariatric procedure performed because it has fewer complications and does not interrupt the digestive process as significantly as a traditional gastric bypass. 

Between 80% and 85% of the stomach is surgically removed and the remaining stomach is stapled closed. What remains is a banana-shaped sleeve that is only able to hold 2 – 3 ounces of food. 

Removing part of the stomach  limits the amount of food you can consume and also impacts production of gut hormones, suppressing hunger and reducing appetite.

This procedure is not reversible and, due to the small size of the stomach, you must make important nutritional changes. With reduced calorie consumption, you may also experience vitamin deficiency, which means you will need to follow your surgeon’s instructions for dietary supplements for the rest of your life. 

You can expect to lose up to 60% of your excess body weight in the first year and a half after surgery.