Tube Stomach Surgery (Sleeve Gastrectomy)
With more than 10,000 successful Tube Stomach Surgery in 40 countries and 25 years of experience, Prof. Dr. Emin ERSOY brings hope to heavy lives with light touches. If you are a candidate for sleeve gastrectomy surgery, let’s evaluate this process together!
Am I a Candidate for Weight Loss Surgery?
As in all obesity surgeries, selecting appropriate candidate for tube stomach operation is very important. The person should fulfil the certain criterias in order to go under the surgery.
Tube stomach, also known as vertical sleeve gastrectomy, is a surgical weight-loss procedure. This procedure is typically performed laparoscopically, which involves inserting small instruments through multiple small incisions in the upper abdomen. Limiting the size of your stomach, restricts the amount of food you are able to consume.
The criterias for sleeve gastrectomy operation are very strict:
- Body Mass Index (BMI) is 40 or higher
- BMI is 35 to 39.9 and there is a serious weight-related health problem, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or severe sleep apnea. In some cases, you may qualify for certain types of weight-loss surgery if your BMI is 30 to 34 and you have serious weight-related health problems.
The person must also be willing to make permanent changes to lead a healthier lifestyle. Should be ready to divide his/her life into two parts as before and after the operation.
Stomach Continues its Functioning
During the procedure, about 80 percent of the stomach is removed, leaving a tube-shaped stomach looking like a banana. Starting from an area close to the pylorus known as the exit door of the organ, the part up to the esophagus is turned into a tube. The organ continues its normal function.
Removing a portion of the stomach reduces body’s level of a hormone called ghrelin, which is commonly referred as ‘hunger hormone’. Thus, many people find that they are much less hungry after the sleeve gastrectomy. Ghrelin also plays a role in blood sugar metabolism, so people with type II diabetes often see an immediate decrease in their need for diabetes medications (especially oral medications) after the sleeve gastrectomy.
Nutrition guidelines after the operation
Role of the protein is crucial
Consuming protein is the most important part of the diet. Protein is the main nutrition of the diet after bariatric surgery and it is important to take it sufficiently (60-80 gram daily) It is also necessary to take multivitamins in regular bases, as recommended by a dietician in order to avoid after surgery complications such as hair loss, sleeping problems and fatigue. For the first two weeks, patient must adopt a liquid diet.
During the third week, patient should follow a pureed/soft diet. She/he should continue to take 60-80 g of protein daily and consume enough liquid.
As the fourth week comes, patient learns what he/she must eat or avoid, how to chew foods and eat slowly. The patient should be warned about not to take the solid and liquid foods at the same time.
After about four weeks on the diet, the patient gradually starts to eat protein and vegetables through the fifth week.
