"I now weigh just 94 kilos and my surgeries at Spire Little Aston have ..."
Read Rosie O’Sullivan's Story
Close
Tell us what you think
We welcome your views on our website and invite you to take part in a brief survey when you've finished your visit.
Your response will help us improve the site and the experience we offer to visitors.
North West
- Cheshire Hospital
- Fylde Coast Hospital
- Liverpool Hospital
- Manchester Hospital
- Murrayfield Hospital Wirral
- Regency Hospital Macclesfield
East Of England
Midlands
Little Aston Hospital
Gastric sleeve surgery (sleeve gastrectomy)
Reduces feelings of hunger and capacity to eat by shrinking your stomach.
Some people struggle with their weight even if they eat healthily and exercise regularly. This can have an impact not only on their physical well being, but also on their self-confidence.
Gastric sleeve or sleeve gastrectomy surgery is a type of weight loss surgery that reduces your feelings of hunger and the amount you eat by reducing the size of your stomach.
Why you might need it
If your body mass index (BMI) is 35 or more and you have been struggling to lose weight even while maintaining a healthy lifestyle, this could be an option for you. Gastric sleeve surgery reduces the size of your stomach and also removes the portion of it that plays a role in the amount of the hunger hormone your stomach releases to your brain.
Obesity can affect both your physical and mental well being. People who have had gastric sleeve surgery with us said that in addition to losing a large amount of weight they also experience a number of positive outcomes, including:
- a reduction in their appetite
- have better health, more energy and improved mental wellbeing
- worry less about developing serious health problems such as type 2 diabetes
- have more self-esteem and self-confidence
- can take part in new activities, such as playing sport with their children
- experience a positive, long term change in attitude towards healthy eating
- have improved health and mobility.
The procedure has also helped many people reduce their risk of health conditions related to obesity – such as developing type 2 diabetes, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and obstructive sleep apnoea.
Your bariatric (obesity) surgeon will shrink your stomach to about a quarter of its current size by removing the left side. They’ll pull the remaining part of the stomach upwards and reseal it with clips and seamguard. The operation takes 1-2 hours.
Once you've recovered, you'll feel full after just a small amount of food. Over time you'll eat less and therefore lose significant amounts of weight while sticking to a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Who will do it?
Our patients are at the heart of what we do and we want you to be in control of your care. To us, that means you can choose the consultant you want to see, and when you want. They'll be with you every step of the way.
All of our consultants are of the highest calibre and benefit from working in our modern, well-equipped hospitals.
Our consultants have high standards to meet, often holding specialist NHS posts and delivering expertise in complex sub-specialty surgeries. Many of our consultants have international reputations for their research in their specialised field.
Before your treatment
You will have a formal consultation with a healthcare professional. During this time you will be able to explain your medical history, weight loss goals and the benefits of the various procedures available to you.
We will discuss if another treatment would be more effective for you - such as a gastric balloon or gastric bypass surgery - or if you can be booked straight in at a time and hospital convenient to you.
Before having gastric sleeve surgery, your surgeon will also order:
- blood tests (done at pre-assessment)
- a complete workup for surgery.
All patients, either insured or paying for themselves, can gain rapid access to this treatment and some of our other complementary latest generation procedures.
Preparing for your treatment
We've tried to make your experience with us as easy and relaxed as possible.
For more information on visiting hours, our food, what to pack if you're staying with us, parking and all those other important practicalities, please visit our patient information pages.
Our dedicated team will also give you tailored advice to follow in the run up to your visit.
The procedure
We understand that having surgery can potentially be a time of anxiety and worry. Our experienced and caring medical staff will be there for you every step of the way.
Gastric sleeve operations usually take one to two hours. It is performed under general anaesthetic, which means you will be asleep during the procedure.
Your experienced consultant bariatric (weight loss) surgeon will either use keyhole surgical techniques, which involve several small cuts being made in the abdomen, or they will make a single larger cut known as open surgery.
The keyhole technique is increasingly common for many types of surgery as it is less invasive and tends to leave less scarring.
Whichever approach your surgeon uses, they will remove up to 75% of your stomach, with the remainder looking like a sleeve or a banana.
They’ll then use clips and seamguard to reseal the stomach.
Aftercare
After this, you will be taken to your room or comfortable area where you can rest and recuperate until we feel you’re ready to go home.
As well as our experienced and caring nurses, one of our dietitians will visit you to talk about what you should eat while your stomach settles down. They’ll also help you plan a long-term healthy diet.
Pain relief
Your stomach will be sore for a few days while it heals, but we'll provide you with appropriate pain relief.
Your recovery
You will be on a liquid diet for 2 weeks, pureed diet for 2 weeks and then a soft diet for 2 weeks.
When you go home at first you should avoid high fibre food such as rice, beans and most healthy breakfast cereals. Your dietitian will give you further advice and remember that fibre is good to eat again after you’ve recovered.
End result
Weight loss surgery, including this option, can be life-changing and it makes many people healthier and happier.
It's important to maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly after this surgery to maintain your weight loss.
How your loved ones can help
You should ask a friend or relative to take you home from hospital as you won't feel up to driving and to help you around the house for the few days.
Looking after you
Even after you’ve left hospital, we’re still looking after you every step of the way. When you leave we’ll provide you with all the appropriate medication and dietary advice you need.
Typically your consultant will want to see you after your treatment to see how you’re doing, an appointment will be made for you before you leave the hospital.
On rare occasions, complications following gastric surgery can occur. The chance of complications depends on the exact type of operation you are having and other factors such as your general health. We will talk to you about the possible risks and complications of having this procedure and how they apply to you.
If you have any questions or concerns, we’re ready to help.
Why choose Spire?
We are committed to delivering excellent individual care and customer service across our network of hospitals, clinics and specialist care centres around the UK. Our dedicated and highly trained team aim to achieve consistently excellent results. For us it's more than just treating patients, it's about looking after people.
How much does it cost?
Gastric sleeve surgery procedure is available from £10,520.
You can trust Spire Little Aston Hospital to provide you with a single, fixed price (1) so there are no surprises. And, through our carefully chosen partner (2) you can even be considered for interest free finance.
We’re here to help you with making these important choices, so you’re then free to concentrate on your treatment and on getting back to being you.
(1) Important: Please read Spire’s terms and conditions for full details of what’s included and excluded in your fixed price* when paying for yourself.
(2) Zebra Finance Ltd trading as Zebra Health Finance , Lincoln House, Stephensons Way, Wyvern Business Park, Derby, DE21 6LY.
Make an enquiry
Important to note
The treatment described on this page may be adapted to meet your individual needs, so it's important to follow your healthcare professional's advice and raise any questions that you may have with them.
What our patients say
We offer a full range of cosmetic procedures
Find out more
inSpire private medical insurance
Find out more
We are just north of Sutton Coldfield
Find out more