Why Sleeve Gastrectomy Might Be Your Best Option

Obesity is a serious health risk that’s associated with all of the leading causes of death in the United States, including heart attack, stroke, and some cancers. Obesity is also associated with poor mental health and reductions in wellbeing. Unfortunately, losing large amounts of weight on your own is doomed to failure in 90% of cases. 

Bariatric surgery helps you lose large amounts of weight quickly. According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, almost 60% of the women and men who underwent bariatric surgery in 2019 opted for sleeve gastrectomy. A sleeve gastrectomy is a surgical procedure that removes about 80% of your stomach. 

After surgery, your new stomach is approximately the size and shape of a banana. The smaller “sleeve” limits the amount of food you can eat at a time. Reducing the size of your stomach helps you lose weight quickly and control your appetite. 

Michael Sutker, MD is an expert in all forms of bariatric surgery — including sleeve gastrectomy — which he recommends only for those who are obese and have failed other weight loss methods. He offers sleeve gastrectomy consultations in the comfort of our Dallas, Texas office. Is sleeve gastrectomy right for you? Here’s why it might be.

Is your body mass index (BMI) over 35?

Dr. Sutker doesn't recommend sleeve gastrectomy to just anyone who’s unhappy with their figure. You must be medically obese. If you’re not sure what your BMI is, you can check it with our calculator. 

If your BMI is under 35, Dr. Sutker may recommend medically supervised weight loss to help you shed unhealthy pounds. If your BMI is between 35 and 39.9, he only advises sleeve gastrectomy if you also have other serious health issues, such as sleep apnea or type 2 diabetes. 

If your BMI is 40 or more and you’ve tried and failed at diets in the past, then the sleeve gastrectomy may be right for you. Obesity is a life-threatening condition that puts you at increased risk for heart attack and stroke. A sleeve gastrectomy lets you quickly lose weight to improve your health and reduce your risk for early death.

Have you failed other weight loss methods?

All bariatric surgery — including sleeve gastrectomy — is a last resort. Even though Dr. Sutker performs sleeve gastrectomy laparoscopically, through small incisions using small instruments, it’s still a surgical procedure. All surgery has risks and causes trauma.

When you come for your consultation, Dr. Sutker asks you about other weight loss methods you’ve tried and failed. Depending on your situation, he may first recommend lifestyle adjustments such as:

• Increasing your level of activity
• Concentrating your diet on whole, fresh foods
• Eliminating sugar, trans fat, and processed foods
• Getting more nutrition through supplements

Even if you undergo sleeve gastrectomy, to ensure success you must adopt new, healthy habits for life. 

Do you want to feel less hungry?

Bariatric surgeries help you drop unwanted pounds by restricting the amount of food you can eat, thereby reducing the amount of calories your digestive tract absorbs. They also alter production of the appetite-regulating hormone ghrelin.

After sleeve gastrectomy, you’re not able to eat the same amount of food you did before your procedure. However, a bonus is that your reduction in ghrelin also decreases your desire to eat. You’re satisfied more easily. 

Do you want to reverse chronic health issues?

Sleeve gastrectomy can help you lose up to 70% of your excess weight within 12-18 months. Since even losing a small amount of weight improves your health, by losing a large amount of weight quickly, you may improve or even reverse chronic health conditions that come with obesity, such as:

• Hypertension
• Type 2 diabetes
• Heart disease
• Sleep apnea
• Joint pain

Your weight loss and new diet could also lower your blood cholesterol and improve your fertility. And you may be able to do more, which can improve your quality of life. Plus, you simply feel better about yourself and get a boost in self-esteem and self-confidence when you drop the weight.

Are you committed to a new lifestyle?

After surgery, you can’t go back to your old habits. But, don’t worry: you don’t do this alone. We work one-on-one with you after your weight loss surgery, teaching you how to eat with your new stomach to get the most benefit.

In addition to helping you design and commit to a more active lifestyle, we help you find nourishing foods that are fulfilling and flavorful. We may also give you extra nutritional support with supplements, including Bariatric Fusion® and Celebrate®, which are designed to support bariatric surgery patients.

To take control of your weight and health today, book your sleeve gastrectomy consultation by contacting our team via phone or online form.