Gastric sleeve is the most popular method of treating obesity. This operation is usually performed in a minimally invasive way – laparoscopically: small incisions are made in the abdomen, through which surgical instruments and a camera (laparoscope) are inserted.
During the operation, about 80 percent of the stomach is removed, forming a narrow stomach of about the shape and size of a banana.
Reducing the size of the stomach limits the amount of food that a person consumes. In addition, the procedure stimulates hormonal changes that help with weight loss and alleviate overweight-related conditions, such as high blood pressure or heart diseases, sleep disorders, diabetes mellitus, joint diseases, etc.
The gastric sleeve can be performed on patients with a
body mass index (BMI) of 35 or more, and on patients for whom diet and physical activity are not effective means of losing weight.