How Long Does a Gastric Sleeve Operation Take to Perform?
One of the reasons that gastric sleeve procedures have become the most popular type of weight-loss surgery is the relatively short length of time the operation takes compared to many other forms of bariatric surgery, including gastric bypass surgery.
- For most patients, once they are asleep, the actual gastric sleeve surgery takes less than 30 minutes
- Including preparation time and post-operative procedures, the entire process takes less than an hour
- Patients should expect to be in the hospital for about 24 hours, which includes monitoring your recovery after the operation
How to Make the Most of Your Gastric Sleeve Surgery
There are a variety of steps you can take to make your gastric sleeve procedure (also known as a sleeve gastrectomy) go as smoothly as possible.
- Do Your Research – From understanding how the procedure works and if you even qualify for a gastric sleeve, to the transformation, you can expect it to make to your lifestyle, the more you know about the process, and its results, the more informed your decision will be. And the better prepared you will be to make it a success.
- Choose the Right Surgeon – Of course, you will look for a surgeon with the right qualifications, experience and skills to perform a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. But the best surgeon will also be there for you before the operation and throughout your entire aftercare program to make sure you are properly prepared, that your recovery is a success, and that all your questions are answered. Do not be afraid to ask details about how any surgeon you are considering participates in every aspect of the entire process.
- Follow the Program – From the moment you decide to have a gastric sleeve procedure to help you lose weight, it is important that you follow the advice of your surgeon and aftercare team. In addition to being a surgical procedure, what you do in preparation, and especially after the surgery, makes a difference to how well you adjust and the benefits you get.
If you found this article helpful, check out our post “How Much Time Off Work Do I Need for Gastric Sleeve Surgery?”.
