We offer this procedure for partial stomach removal to help weight loss if you’re severely overweight and diet and exercise haven’t worked.
Sometimes also called
Typical hospital stay
2 nights
Procedure duration
1-2 hours
Type of anaesthetic
General
Available to self-pay?
Yes
Covered by health insurance?
Some insurers, by exception
It’s weight loss surgery to remove part of your stomach, leaving the left side in a long, sleeve-like shape.
This reduces your stomach size, limiting the amount you can eat. It also changes the way your hormones work, so you’ll feel full more quickly than before.
Other benefits are an improvement or a reduced risk of developing weight-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Who needs it?
If your body mass index (BMI) is 35 or more and you’ve been struggling to lose weight even while maintaining a healthy lifestyle, this could be an option for you.
Sometimes, gastric sleeve surgery is carried out before you can have gastric bypass surgery. In this case, you’ll need to wait for up to 18 months after your gastric sleeve surgery before being assessed for the second operation. By that time, you should have lost a significant amount of weight.
Almost all our hospitals offer gastric sleeve surgery and have teams of bariatric (weight loss) consultants and surgeons who specialise in this procedure.
It’s an operation to remove one side of your stomach to help you lose weight. This works in two ways:
The benefits are:
Before surgery
You’ll be assessed to check that you’re fit for the operation. This may include blood tests, X-rays and scans, as well as an explanation of the surgery and long-term outlook.
You may also need to follow a calorie-controlled diet to reduce the size of your liver. This will make the operation easier and safer.
During surgery
Gastric sleeve surgery is usually done by laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery. This has a faster recovery time than traditional open surgery. The surgery is carried out under general anaesthetic so you’ll be asleep.
During the operation your surgeon will:
If your surgeon thinks keyhole surgery isn’t suitable for you, they may suggest open surgery, which involves making one single, larger cut.
How long does gastric sleeve surgery take?
Between one and two hours.
Pain after gastric sleeve surgery
It's normal to experience some pain or discomfort after gastric sleeve surgery, but your healthcare team will make sure you have appropriate pain relief medication.
Your hospital stay
You’ll stay in hospital for at least two nights.
Recovery time
You can usually leave hospital two days after your surgery and it’s normal to feel very tired at first.
You should feel comfortable doing most everyday activities within four to six weeks. For three to six months afterwards, you may also get symptoms due to rapid weight loss, such as:
Aftercare and ongoing treatment
Your healthcare team will explain what you need to do during your recovery. This will include:
Your lifestyle after treatment
Even though you won’t be able to eat as much as before your surgery, it’s important to follow a healthy diet and lifestyle. This way you’ll maximise your weight loss and reduce your risk of weight-related diseases. Our dietitians will help you.
You should avoid getting pregnant for the first 18 months after gastric sleeve surgery so your weight can stabilise.
To maintain the benefits of your weight loss surgery, you’ll need regular check-ups for the rest of your life. These will become less often as time goes on.
Most people have gastric sleeve surgery without complications, but all surgery carries some risks. Your consultant will explain them to you before you go ahead.
Although rare, gastric sleeve surgery complications can include:
Some complications can be treated with medication, but others may need further surgery.
At Spire hospitals, your safety is our top priority. We have high standards of quality control, equipment and cleanliness and an ongoing system of review and training for our medical teams.
Although everyone’s different, here’s a typical recovery timeline for gastric sleeve surgery:
Day 2
2 years
Able to leave hospital
Return to work, depending on your job
May be able to drive (check with your car insurance company)
Follow a controlled, monitored diet
Less symptoms of rapid weight loss
Most weight loss will have happened
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.