Bariatric surgery might be the logical next step when your weight puts your health at risk, and everything you have tried to shed the pounds has failed.
Bariatric surgeries are procedures designed to alter the digestive system, primarily the stomach. The two most popular forms of bariatric surgery are gastric sleeve surgery and gastric bypass surgery. Quite often, you will hear both referred to as weight loss surgery.
While the two procedures pursue the same goal of helping people lose weight, they feature significant differences worth discussing. So let’s look at gastric sleeve vs. bypass, so you can make a more informed decision when discussing your options with your doctor.
Gastric Sleeve vs. Bypass Surgery – The Similarities
Both surgeries alter your stomach size by shrinking it to the size of a small pouch.
A smaller stomach area means you will feel full of much less food. Smaller stomachs also result in less ghrelin – the hormone responsible for feelings of hunger.
The differences between the two surgeries lay in how they create a smaller stomach pouch.
How Gastric Sleeve Surgery Modifies Stomach Size
Gastric sleeve surgery is a weight loss surgery that removes about 80 percent of your stomach.
It’s almost always a minimally invasive procedure using a laparoscope’s keyhole surgery (tiny incisions).
After making tiny incisions, the surgeon will insert a long thin tube into your abdomen. The tube has a small camera and other surgical instruments that allow the surgeon to operate.
Surgeons perform gastric sleeve bypasses using general anesthesia, which means you will be put into a deep sleep and require a ventilator during the procedure.
The surgeon separates your stomach into two unequal parts, leaving 20 percent on one side and removing the other 80 percent.
After the surgeon has removed the excess stomach material, they will suture the remaining stomach together, leaving a tubed-shaped stomach (called the gastric sleeve) that accounts for around 25% of its former size.
A gastric sleeve surgery will take about an hour. Once complete, you will spend at least another hour in postoperative care while you emerge from the anesthesia.
The small incisions will heal relatively quickly, and because of their minimally invasive nature, recovery periods from gastric sleeve surgeries are rapid. Most patients will return home after 2 or 3 days.
You will be put on a liquid diet for a few weeks and gradually transfer to pureed foods before starting solid foods. Your meals will consume significantly less food than you are used to because of your smaller stomach. Most people must stop drinking during meals to eat more nutrient-dense foods.
Read Also: What is gastric sleeve diet
How Gastric Bypass Alters Stomach Size
This procedure, also known as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, creates a small stomach pouch by bypassing a large portion of your stomach and some of your small intestine.
The food bypasses the duodenum by attaching directly to the small intestine, significantly reducing fat absorption.
Your doctor will first consult you to ensure a gastric bypass is suitable. Gastric bypass is a keyhole procedure like the gastric sleeve in many cases. However, sometimes it will be necessary to conduct an entire operation.
Like thLikesleeve, your doctor will put you on a liquid-only diet and then change to pureed food before returning to solids after a few weeks.
Dietitians will guide you on what foods you should eat because maximizing the nutrients you receive from a smaller amount of food is crucial.
Vitamin and mineral supplements will also be required to compensate for the shortfall caused by bypassing the small intestine. You will need to take these supplements for the rest of your life.
Read Also: BMI For Gastric Bypass: What are 7 Benefits For The Bypass
Gastric Bypass vs. Gastric Sleeve: Results and Benefits
Both gastric bypass and gastric sleeve procedures can lead to significant weight loss and improvements in overall health. Here are some of the benefits and results associated with each procedure:
Gastric Bypass:
- Significant weight loss: Gastric bypass surgery can result in an average weight loss of 60-80% of excess weight within the first year after surgery.
- Improved health conditions: Gastric bypass surgery can improve or resolve health conditions related to obesity, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and high cholesterol.
- Rapid weight loss: Patients typically experience rapid weight loss within the first few months after surgery, which can boost motivation to continue with healthy lifestyle habits.
- Better quality of life: Many patients report an improved quality of life following gastric bypass, including increased energy, mobility, and self-confidence.
- Long-term weight loss maintenance: Gastric bypass has been shown to lead to long-term weight loss maintenance, with many patients maintaining a significant amount of weight loss for up to 10 years after surgery.
Gastric Sleeve:
- Significant weight loss: Gastric sleeve surgery can result in an average weight loss of 50-70% of excess weight within the first year after surgery.
- Improved health conditions: Gastric sleeves can improve or resolve health conditions related to obesity, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and high cholesterol.
- Fewer complications: Gastric sleeve is a simpler surgery with fewer complications than a gastric bypass.
- Lower risk of nutritional deficiencies: Gastric sleeve surgery may result in a lower risk of nutritional deficiencies than gastric bypass. However, patients must still follow a specific diet and take supplements to prevent deficiencies.
- Long-term weight loss maintenance: Gastric sleeve has been shown to lead to long-term weight loss maintenance, with many patients maintaining a significant amount of weight loss for up to 5 years after surgery.
Overall, both gastric bypass and gastric sleeve procedures can lead to significant weight loss and improvements in overall health. However, the choice between the two procedures depends on the individual’s specific health needs and goals, as well as the advice of a medical professional.
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Risks of Gastric Bypass and Gastric Sleeve Surgery
All surgeries come with a certain degree of risk. However, weight loss surgeries are routine operations and enjoy great success. The most significant risk is an infection, but antibiotics reduce that risk to an acceptable level. There are also minor risks, such as leaks from the staple joins and bowel obstruction.
Some patients also experience low blood sugar levels following weight-loss surgeries. Talk to your doctor about how you can mitigate or eliminate these risks.
Gastric Sleeve vs. Bypass Recovery Times
A gastric bypass is more complicated than a gastric sleeve because the former is a two-step surgery, while the latter is a single operation.
Both surgeries can be completed using a laparoscope, which reduces recovery times. Once you can hold down liquids, you can go home after 1 or 2 days.
If you experience a lot of pain after the surgery, your doctor may advise you to stay in the hospital so they can keep you under observation for a couple more days.
Due to the more complicated nature of a gastric bypass, you should expect to spend at least two days recovering in the hospital.
A gastric bypass performed via open surgery will require more recovery time due to the wounds created by large incisions. Expect to be in the hospital for at least 4 to 5 days.
Possible Complications from Weight Loss Surgery
Most surgeries are successful, but each comes with its own set of risks and possible complications.
Gastric Sleeve Complications
After a gastric sleeve surgery, it’s possible patients may experience some of the following complications:
- Acid reflux
- Stomach fluid leaking
- Obstruction in the stomach
- A narrowing of the stomach pouch
Gastric Bypass Complications
There is a higher risk of nutritional deficiency after a gastric bypass, but there may be other complications, including:
- Stomach ulcers
- Develop a sensitivity to alcohol
- Stomach perforations
- Bowel obstructions
gastric sleeve vs. gastric bypass pros and cons
Each type of surgery has pros and cons, which can help you decide what will work best for your situation.
Gastric Sleeve Pros and Cons
Gastric sleeve surgery patients often lose 65% of their excess body weight. The surgeon completes the surgery in one sitting, so there is less risk of complications. Recovery is faster, and patients can absorb more minerals and nutrients than gastric bypass patients.
The main drawbacks of gastric sleeves include slower weight loss, it’s not reversible, and acid reflux being a risk.
Gastric Bypass Pros and Cons
Bypass patients often lose up to 80% of their excess body weight due to the stomach not absorbing as many calories. Weight loss is also more rapid than possible with a gastric sleeve. While the surgery is difficult to reverse, it’s not impossible.
Surgeons perform gastric bypasses in two steps. First, there is more risk, and the recovery period is longer. There is also the risk of dietary deficiencies because of malabsorption.
Deciding What’s Right for You
The best way to determine which weight loss surgery is right for you is to consult your doctor. They will consider your weight, medical history, health conditions, and expectations to help you decide.
Gastric sleeve vs. bypass comparison table
| Gastric Sleeve | Gastric Bypass | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Procedure | Remove Portion Of the Stomach | Attaching pouch to The intestine to bypassing the stomach |
||
| Used Techinique | Endoscopy | Endoscopy | ||
| Full Recovery | 1-3 weeks | 2-4 weeks | ||
| Pros | – lose 60 – 65% extra weight – Lower expected Complications – Faster recovery time | – lose 80% extra weight – faster weight loss – can be reversed |
||
| Cons | – less weight loss – can not be reversed – slower weight loss | – higher expected complications – longer recovery time – dumping syndrome risk |
||
| Weight Loss Results | 60-65% extra weight | Up to 80% extra weight | ||
gastric sleeve vs. bypass cost
Like any other surgery, the cost of this procedure varies depending on several factors, including the geographic hospital location and the surgeon’s experience. Noteworthy is that the surgery’s cost in some places may not include all fees, such as aftercare services and anesthesia.
For example, The cost of gastric bypass – is £8,000 to £15,000—sleeve gastrectomy – is £8,000 to £10,000. However, according to National Health Service (NHS), in the USA, a sleeve gastrectomy costs about $17,500, and a bypass it’s about $27,000, according to MultiCare’s Website.
While Gastric Sleeve prices in Turkey range between €2200 – €3200 and bypass between €2500 – €3500
| Country | Operation Type | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | Gastric Sleeve | €2200 – €3200 |
| Gastric Bypass | €2500 – €3500 | |
| United Kingdom | Gastric Sleeve | £8,000 – £15,000 |
| Gastric Bypass | £8,000 – £10,000 | |
| United States | Gastric Sleeve | $17,500 |
| Gastric Bypass | $27,000 |
Recently, Istanbul has become the destination for many people worldwide to get medical services. The reasons behind that are the affordable prices, highly skilled doctors, and specific medical services.
Here at HayatMed, we provide you with all fully inclusive fee packages. This package includes all the services associated with the surgery, such as hospital charges, surgeons’ and anesthetist’s fees, and aftercare policy.
With us, be sure that you are in the hands of medical experts who can achieve your desired results. Contact us for the exact cost of Weight Loss Procedures, or click here to return to the Medical Blog.
Frequently asked questions
Gastric bypass surgery is a safe and reversible operation, but the reverse operation is complicated, and you need to choose a reputable hospital and a very experienced doctor.
In general, gastric bypass and other weight-loss surgeries may be an option for you if:
- A body mass index (BMI) is 40 or higher.
- Your BMI is between 35 and 39.9, and you have serious weight-related health problems, such as
- Type 2 diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Severe sleep apnea.
In some cases, you may qualify for certain types of weight-loss surgery if your BMI is 30 to 34 and you have serious weight-related health problems.
Like any other operation, gastric bypass surgery has potential risks and complications. However, the risks caused by obesity are much greater than the risks of the operation.
Because gastric bypass surgery significantly improves weight-related health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease.
The main point is to choose a skilled surgeon with high experience because this reduces the possibility of complications arising after and during the operation.
Patients lose between 60% and 80% of their excess weight, but they must continue to follow a healthy diet, or they will gain weight again.
Controlling blood sugar and treating type 2 diabetes with gastric bypass have been frequently reported.
The stomach may expand and return to its previous size if you do not follow the diet instructions given by your doctor.
In general, you can back to work after one week following your procedure. This is at a time in your recovery when you have fewer signs of surgery. Ideally, it would be best if you aimed to go back to work after seven to ten days following your procedure.
In Stomach Sleeve surgery, we use general anesthesia. So, you’ll sleep through the procedure. However, you will stay in the hospital for two or three nights after the operation to avoid any side effects caused by general anesthesia and stay under medical observation.
It’s simply YES for most cases, and you can have a second surgery. The patient can repeat the operation several times – it can be from 2 to 3 times.
