There has always been this debate on whether one weight-loss surgery is “better” than the other. There are a variety of options to choose from including the adjustable gastric band (lap-band), gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, gastric plication, and duodenal switch. However, is one truly superior over another? Probably not. It really depends on a number of factors including your BMI (body mass index), your weight-loss expectations or goals, health, etc.. I think the question shouldn’t be which surgery is better, but rather “which surgery option is best for me?” A consultation with your surgeon will help to clarify a lot of the questions and concerns that you may have and he/she will work closely with you to choose the right approach.

Today, we are going to talk about the advantages of the gastric sleeve. Basically, the gastric sleeve is a restrictive procedure in which approximately 70% of the stomach is removed and the remainder of the stomach is formed into a long tube shape, or sleeve. This limits the amount of food you can take, thereby, helping you lose weight.

Some advantages of the gastric sleeve include:

• safe and effective method to lose weight
• Ghrelin, a hormone in the stomach that stimulates appetite, is significantly reduced
• digestive tract is not altered and digestion occurs naturally without causing malabsorption
• no dumping syndrome
• no foreign medical device, such as a band, in the body
• safer and less complex procedure since the intestines are not rerouted