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Health & Fitness

Sleeve Gastrectomy: The Best Cure for Obesity?

In some cases, bariatric surgery can be the only cure for obesity, and sleeve gastrectomy is becoming an increasingly popular bariatric surgery option.

It’s officially an epidemic. With approximately 15 million Americans meeting the definition of being morbidly obese, a significant number of people nationwide are fighting what amounts to a never-ending battle with their weight. After years of diets and exercise, many of those people find bariatric surgery is the only cure.

Meeting the definition of morbidly obese, according to the National Institutes of Health, means being 100 pounds or more above an ideal body weight, having a body mass index of 40 or more, or having a body mass index of 35 and one or more co-morbid conditions, such as type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure. So what type of bariatric surgery is best for people who qualify? It depends on the individual. However, Christopher Hart, MD, director of the Atlanta Bariatric Center and chief of staff at Emory Johns Creek Hospital, said vertical sleeve gastrectomy is quickly growing in popularity among patients.

“Sleeve gastrectomy offers the best of gastric bypass and the best of lap-band surgery,” said Hart. “It’s the only bariatric procedure where something is removed from the body, approximately 70 to 80 percent of the stomach to be precise. And yet, it has the least risk of long-term complications.” 

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Hart said that when a portion of the stomach is removed during a sleeve gastrectomy procedure, the remaining stomach goes from looking like the shape of a water bottle to the shape of a garden hose—it looks like a “sleeve.” He said patients tend to lose weight quickly after the procedure. On average many can expect to lose more than half their excess weight in the first year after surgery. 

What’s more, Hart said that when much of the stomach is removed, so is a hormone called ghrelin. Ghrelin is a hormone made by the stomach that stimulates appetite. When it is removed with the stomach, patients also notice a steep decline in their appetites in addition to their stomachs not being able to hold as much food. That further assists with weight loss.

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“The beauty of sleeve gastrectomy is that it works well for a wide variety of patients,” said Hart. “It’s performed laparoscopically, so there is very little bleeding and no large incision involved. It’s usually performed on an outpatient basis with a brief observation period in the hospital.”

People who are considering bariatric surgery should talk with an experienced bariatric surgeon about what their options are, according to Hart. No matter what type of surgery a patient chooses, they should be prepared not only for surgery, but for major lifestyle changes after surgery. For example, patients need to drastically change eating habits and step up exercise for life.

While bariatric surgery may seem like a drastic measure in the fight against obesity, the benefits are numerous. In addition to the positive cosmetic effects of surgery, it also reduces the long-term mortality associated with obesity. Hart said more than 90 percent of Type 2 diabetes is resolved and more than 80 percent of high blood pressure is cured after sleeve gastrectomy. Most patients report being able to significantly reduce or eliminate the amount of medicine they take for conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. “The fact of the matter is that being obese can kill you,” said Hart.

For those who haven’t been able to win the battle against obesity, sleeve gastrectomy or another bariatric surgery option may be the only weapon they have left.

Emory Johns Creek Hospital, located in the heart of Johns Creek, is known for its state-of-the-art technology in a luxurious, hotel-like setting. As a community hospital participating in most insurance plans, services include 24/7 emergency care with board-certified emergency physicians, state-of-the-art all-digital imaging including a 64-slice CT,  MRI,  The Birth Place with Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, 24-hour anesthesiologists, intensive care, advanced cardiac care, vascular medicine and surgery, rehabilitation services and women’s services.  Emory Johns Creek Hospital is home to the Atlanta Bariatric Center, designated a Center of Excellence by the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons. Learn more at www.emoryjohnscreekcom.

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