As many as 150,000 individuals choose to have gastric sleeve surgery in the United States every year to help them lose weight. This is the most often performed surgical procedure for weight loss in the U.S. and worldwide. It is less invasive than Roux-en-Y (gastric bypass surgery) and can be an effective tool to help individuals lose weight.
Today we are going to talk about this popular weight loss surgery and how unknowingly stretching your stomach after gastric sleeve can lead to weight gain. We will talk about this surgery, what it involves, and what behaviors can render it ineffective. We will also provide a resource for correcting stomach stretching after gastric sleeve surgery.
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Gastric Sleeve Surgery Details
While gastric sleeve surgery does not entail the rerouting of any intestines, like gastric bypass, it is considered non-reversible because the large majority of the patient's stomach is cut away and discarded. Most patients are left with only 25% of their original stomach tissue when it's all said and done.
The portion of the stomach that remains is held together with surgical staples and shaped into a much smaller pouch, which now serves as the individual's new stomach. Gastric sleeve surgery is not reversible because there is no way to locate or reattach the stomach tissue that has been cut away.
How Does This Surgery Help People Lose Weight?
One part of the stomach that is removed is responsible for manufacturing and distributing a hormone called ghrelin. This hormone is the culprit that sends hunger pangs and food cravings to annoy us and disrupt our healthy eating plan. Having the large majority of ghrelin out of the picture and the much smaller stomach capacity help individuals lose weight. Also, reducing the stomach capacity slows down the speed at which it processes food, which helps prolong satiety.
Why Do Over Half Of Gastric Sleeve Surgery Patients Regain Weight?
Many patients find success with weight loss through the restrictive nature of gastric sleeve surgery, but unfortunately, about half of those individuals gain their lost weight back. You may be thinking, “How can that happen? Can your stomach stretch after gastric sleeve?” The answer is yes.
Most of the time, individuals are overweight or obese because they lack healthy lifestyle habits, eat the wrong types of foods, do not understand or practice portion control, and lead inactive lives.
Immediately after gastric bypass surgery, the patient's stomach needs to heal and requires a very strict liquid diet. They gradually have to work their way back up to eating solid foods, so they drop weight rapidly. After a while, they and their digestive system become accustomed to their new tiny stomach and begin to eat a wider variety of foods.
Although the stomach can no longer hold as much food at one time, the individual still gets to choose the foods and beverages they consume, how much they eat, and how often they eat. These choices can all contribute to weight gain. One of the most common issues patients face that can result in significant weight gain is a gradually stretching stomach after gastric sleeve.
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How Can You Stretch Your Stomach After Gastric Sleeve?
This complication can sneak up on people, and they do not realize it is happening until it is too late and the weight is back and the damage is done.
The stretching stomach after gastric sleeve starts gradually with a small amount of overeating, but when done consistently, the stomach readjusts to accommodate the extra food. The next time you eat, it takes a bit more to make you feel full and satisfied, and over time, the stomach is stretched out so much that the restrictive benefits of the surgery have been totally undone.
Can You Fix A Stretched Stomach After Gastric Sleeve?
There are a few options for patients who are gaining weight or whose weight loss has totally stalled out and they are nowhere near their goals.
Conversion
Patients have the option to convert their gastric sleeve to a gastric bypass or a duodenal switch, which involves rearranging their intestines and adding a malabsorptive aspect to their digestive system. Patients who undergo gastric bypass or duodenal switch surgery are subject to the additional risks and complications that come with another surgical procedure and the risk of adverse side effects, including malnutrition, so many are not thrilled about these options.
Endoscopic Revision
Suture ReSculpt is a procedure that is done endoscopically (without surgery) and can correct some issues contributing to weight regain including stomach stretching after gastric sleeve. It is not done by a surgeon but by a gastroenterologist who has extensive training in endoscopic bariatric techniques, like .
There is no need for any external incisions when doing an endoscopic revision and correcting a stretched stomach after gastric sleeve surgery because the endoscope is placed through the mouth and into the stomach. This special tool allows the doctor to see the stomach pouch and make changes to the gastric sleeve using a special suturing tool to tighten it back up. The doctor can endoscopically reinforce the original staple line created during the initial gastric sleeve surgery or can reduce and reshape the sleeve using sutures to restore its restrictive capability.
Endoscopic revision is much easier on the body than a surgical procedure; it has a much lower risk profile, and the recovery time is minimal.
Where Can I Learn More About The Suture Resculpt Procedure To Fix A Stretched Stomach After Gastric Sleeve?
Whether your bariatric surgery was long ago or done more recently, if you are not losing the weight you expected, have plateaued, or are gaining weight, reach out to Batash Endoscopic Weight Loss Center for help. Set up an appointment to speak to one of our experts and find out if you are a good candidate for non-surgical Suture Resculpt.
The experts at Batash Endoscopic Weight Loss Center understand the challenges that you face when trying to lose weight. They have a variety of non-surgical procedures, strategies, and a team of experts at your disposal to help you reach your goals for weight loss and improving your health.
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