Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

Reasons to consider LSG surgery

Here are some reasons why LSG may be right for you:

• If you have a BMI of more than 60, LSG may be used as a first surgery to help you lose enough weight so you can then safely have a second, more extensive type of weight-loss surgery at a later date. The risks with some forms of bariatric surgery are much higher for people with a BMI over 60.
• If you are older or have other risk factors for surgery like heart, lung, or liver problems, LSG may be a safer choice for you than other longer and more complicated weight-loss surgeries.
• If you have a BMI of about 40 to 50, your healthcare provider may recommend LSG. That's because it's less likely to cause side effects. These include stomach ulcers or poor food absorption than other forms of weight-loss surgery.

Weight-loss benefits of LSG

In the first 2 years after LSG, most people will lose between 40% and 50% of their body weight. If your BMI before surgery is 60 or more, you may lose about 125 pounds.

Studies also show that if you have obesity-related problems like diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, or high cholesterol, you have about a 75% chance that these conditions will also improve.

Risks of LSG surgery

Any surgery done under general anaesthesia carries some risk for heart and brain damage, but these risks are low. LSG is a shorter procedure than other types of gastric bypass surgery. With LSG surgery you have a 5% to 10% risk for a complication such as:

• Leaking of stomach juices from where the stomach has been removed
• Bleeding
• The blood clot that forms in your leg and travels to your lungs and heart
• Narrowing of the inside diameter of the new stomach
• Infection
• Nutrients poorly absorbed
• Hernia
• Bowel blockage

To help protect against gastrointestinal problems and weight regain, continue to have careful follow-up past the third year after surgery.

Weight loss after LSG slows down after a few years, and your stomach may stretch and grow. For any bariatric surgery to succeed, you must make important lifestyle changes that include both better nutrition and regular exercise.

Be sure to discuss any type of weight-loss surgery carefully with your healthcare provider. Before surgery, you will need to have a complete physical exam to make sure you are healthy enough to have the procedure. You should also get nutritional and mental health counselling to make sure you are prepared for what to expect after surgery.