Metabolic Effects of Gastric Sleeve Surgery

The gastric sleeve is one of the bariatric procedures that you may hear about in the media often, since celebrities like Lisa Lampanelli and Rosie O'Donnell lost significant amounts of weight with the sleeve procedure. New research has shown that the health benefits of the gastric sleeve , such as significant weight loss and improvement in diabetes and heart disease, are not simply caused by a reduction in the stomach size, but by increased levels of bile acids in the blood. These findings indicate that bile acids could bring new hope and methods for treating obesity and diabetes. The gastric sleeve procedure involves the permanent removal of over 80% of the stomach. This turns the stomach into a long, narrow tube using a row of staples. In the medical community, there is debate about how small a gastric sleeve should be made. Conventional thought is when you make the stomach smaller, patients lose more weight because they must eat smaller portions. This study suggests that biochemical effects may also play a role. You can read more about the study here.

At South Texas Surgeons we prioritize staying on the leading edge of bariatric research. We specialize in the Lap-Band, and also proudly offer the gastric sleeve and gastric bypass to appropriate candidates. Free seminars are held twice weekly in our office to discuss the differences between the gastric band and gastric sleeve procedures. Our surgeons are available to answer your questions and help you decide which procedure is best for you. You can register for a seminar online, or call our office at (866) 463-5499 .