Sleeve Gastrectomy

Suburban Surgical Associates/Suburban Metabolic Institute

General Surgeons located in Berwyn, IL, Elmhurst, IL & La Grange, IL

Sleeve gastrectomy effectively treats obesity, using minimally-invasive techniques to help you lose a significant amount of weight within about one to two years after the procedure. The physicians at Suburban Surgical Associates/Suburban Metabolic Institute have extensive experience performing sleeve gastrectomy surgery and have a comprehensive program that provides the support to meet your weight loss goals and maintain them. To learn whether you’re a good candidate for sleeve gastrectomy, call one of our offices in Berwyn, La Grange, or Elmhurst, Illinois, or request a consultation online.

Sleeve Gastrectomy

What is sleeve gastrectomy?   

Sleeve gastrectomy is a type of bariatric or weight loss surgery. During the procedure, your doctor removes about 80% of your stomach. The intestines are not altered in any way, so digestion flows in the same direction as it was before surgery.

How does sleeve gastrectomy promote weight loss?

Sleeve gastrectomy works by reducing the size of your stomach and changing hormone levels.

Making your stomach smaller limits the amount of food you can consume at one time, so you feel full quickly, take in fewer calories, and lose weight. It also reduces ghrelin -- the hormone produced in the stomach that makes you feel hungry -- so many patients find that their appetite decreases following sleeve gastrectomy.

Additionally, other metabolic changes in other hormones affect hunger, satiety, appetite, and blood sugar control that helps improve weight loss.  

Are you a candidate for sleeve gastrectomy?

Patients seeking bariatric surgery often have a history of trying to lose weight with other methods that were unsuccessful.

Your physician may recommend sleeve gastrectomy if you have:

  • A body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above, or you’re more than 100 pounds overweight
  • A BMI of 35 or more with at least one obesity-related health condition

To achieve optimal results, you’ll also need to commit to following the recommended eating and exercise plan, along with the follow-up plan after you have sleeve gastrectomy.

How much weight can you expect to lose?

Many patients lose 60-70% of their excess body weight on average within the first to two years after sleeve gastrectomy.  Your total weight loss, however, depends on a variety of factors like your preoperative weight, age, sex, and your ability to follow a healthy diet following your surgery.

What other health conditions improve following sleeve gastrectomy?

Obesity increases your risk for chronic health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obstructive sleep apnea. These health problems may resolve or significantly improve in more than 75% of patients who have sleeve gastrectomy.

Sleeve gastrectomy may improve your glucose metabolism regardless of the amount of weight you lose because of its effect on hormones. It’s estimated that type 2 diabetes may go into remission in more than 60% of those undergoing sleeve gastrectomy.

How is sleeve gastrectomy performed?

Sleeve gastrectomy is a minimally-invasive procedure performed through small incisions in the abdomen. A camera is inserted through one incision to provide a magnified view which allows the surgeon to perform the procedure using thin surgical instruments which they insert through the other incisions.

How do I learn more about sleeve gastrectomy and what are the next steps?   

If you want to learn more about gastric sleeve surgery, bariatric surgery, and our comprehensive weight loss programs, we strongly recommend signing up for one of our free informational seminars at either Elmhurst Memorial Hospital or Macneal Hospital. Our surgeons will give an overview of obesity, go into detail about the indications and types of surgeries we offer, and take time to answer any questions you may have.  

If you have further questions, you can speak with Anna or Erica, our bariatric coordinators, by calling one of the location numbers below.

Click here to read Dr. Choh’s article on the Healthy Driven Chicago website.