CONSIDERING SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY?
COMPARE LAP-BAND® TO SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY
Sleeve gastrectomy is becoming a more commonly performed procedure in the bariatric community. You may know someone who is experiencing positive short-term results with sleeve gastrectomy. Some people believe that sleeve gastrectomy can deliver rapid short-term weight loss results similar to gastric bypass, but that sleeve gastrectomy is less drastic and has fewer complications.
According to the American College of Surgeons database,1* there is no meaningful difference in 30-day morbidity (serious illness or complications) between sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass. In fact, data showed:
- 3 times greater chance of readmission to the hospital
- 3 times greater chance of reoperation
- 3 times the length of hospital stay following the procedure1
Below are some outlined perceived benefits and considerations about sleeve gastrectomy. Click here for a list of questions to discuss with a LAP-BAND® System specialist about the differences and similarities between sleeve gastrectomy and the LAP-BAND® System.
- You may have heard people refer to sleeve gastrectomy as gastric bypass-like weight loss, with the safety of gastric banding.
- Actually, safety with sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass is similar in 30-day morbidity, and gastric banding was shown to be safer than both sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass according to the American College of Surgeons database.
- You lose more weight and you lose it rapidly with sleeve gastrectomy—and you don't have to work as hard as you do with the LAP-BAND® System.
- Yes, many patients experience rapid initial weight loss with sleeve gastrectomy, but one factor to consider is weight regain. For example, some long-term studies have shown significant weight regain with sleeve gastrectomy. All procedures require lifestyle and behavioral changes to be successful long term, and that's what is important. The LAP-BAND® System is a tool that helps you early on to make the necessary changes for long-term success.
- Sleeve gastrectomy is a permanent solution
- All bariatric procedures potentially provide a permanent weight loss solution. Sleeve gastrectomy involves permanently amputating a large portion of the stomach, which is non-reversible.4 The LAP-BAND® System is a long-term solution, but if necessary, the LAP-BAND® System can be removed without your anatomy being altered or changed.
- The sleeve gastrectomy procedure does not require a foreign body to be implanted.
- The sleeve gastrectomy involves permanently amputating a large portion of the stomach, in which hundreds of staples are left in the body permanently.
- I'm not worried about a staple line leak; the surgeon says this serious complication is very rare.
- Staple line leaks are a serious complication. A leak consists of gastric (stomach) fluids leaking out at the staple line. When leaks happen, they can be a potentially serious, life-threatening complication that may require treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) for an extended period of time. According to multiple studies, between 4.6%-4.9% of patients experienced a leak.
- In the long term, sleeve gastrectomy seems to have less potential for reoperation than LAP-BAND®.
- In published studies sleeve gastrectomy has a 25% rate of reoperation/conversion to another procedure. A reoperation may be necessary with any weight loss surgery.
- There are less dietary and exercise restrictions with sleeve gastrectomy.
- While that may be true, all bariatric procedures require lifestyle and behavioral changes to be successful long-term. The LAP-BAND® System is a tool that helps you early on to make the necessary changes for long-term success.
If you are considering sleeve gastrectomy, here are some questions you should discuss with your surgeon:
- How long will I be in the hospital with the sleeve gastrectomy procedure? How long will I be in the hospital with the LAP-BAND® System procedure?
- What are some of the serious complications with sleeve gastrectomy; can you describe them? How long will I be in the intensive care unit (ICU) if I get a serious complication?
- What are some of the serious complications with the LAP-BAND® System; can you describe them? How long will I be in the ICU if I get a serious complication?
- How does the long-term weight loss with sleeve gastrectomy compare to the LAP-BAND® System?
- What type of lifestyle and behavior changes do I have to make to be successful long-term with sleeve gastrectomy? What type of lifestyle and behavior changes do I have to make to be successful long-term with the LAP-BAND® System?
- Can I still get sleeve gastrectomy if I have GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease)? Can I get the LAP-BAND® System if I have GERD?
- Can my stomach stretch out again after the sleeve gastrectomy procedure?
- Can I regain the weight I have lost with the sleeve gastrectomy procedure? Can I regain the weight I have lost with the LAP-BAND® System?
- If I start to regain my weight, is there a way to adjust the sleeve to reverse the weight regain and begin losing weight again?
- If I start to regain my weight with the LAP-BAND® System, is there a way to adjust the LAP-BAND® System to reverse the weight regain and begin losing weight again?
- How many sleeve gastrectomy procedures have you performed? How many LAP-BAND® System procedures have you performed?
- If a family member of yours needed bariatric surgery what would you recommend?
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