The gastric bypass procedure and the gastric sleeve procedure are both forms of bariatric surgery, but they’re actually quite different. Here’s what you should know.
The Gastric Bypass.
In a gastric bypass surgery, bariatric surgeons attach a small pouch to the patient’s intestine in order to bypass the stomach. This procedure thusly limits the amount of food the patient can consume at any given time, allowing them to feel fuller sooner, and stay full for longer periods of time. Since a portion of the small intestine is being bypassed, the body also absorbs fewer calories. As the patient continues to eat less, the body stops storing excess calories, and starts using its fat supply for energy. This procedure takes about two weeks to recover from, and within the first year and a half following the surgery, the patient can expect to lose between 60 and 80% of his or her excess weight.
The Gastric Sleeve.
In a gastric sleeve surgery, bariatric surgeons actually remove part of the stomach, which produces a tube- or sleeve-shaped stomach. Since the stomach is smaller, it again limits the amount of food a patient can eat, which produces similar effects as the gastric bypass procedure. This surgery, however, takes at least two weeks to recover from, and could take as long as a month. Patients should also expect to lose weight more slowly than had they gotten a gastric bypass surgery. In the first year, patients can lose between 50 and 80% of their excess weight.
These surgeries are extreme options, and should not be approached lightly. In fact, there is a good chance that you may not even be eligible to undergo either of them. If you’d like to consider either of these options further, it’s best to speak to your doctor about the qualifications.
If you have any questions about the gastric bypass or the gastric sleeve, feel free to share in the comments.