AM I A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY?

Sleeve gastrectomy is a solution that allow you to finally lose those extra pounds that are affecting your well-being and quality of life. However, as with other obesity procedures (gastric banding, gastric bypass…), this technique is not for everyone, and you will need to meet certain conditions if you wish to benefit from this procedure.

Here is how to know if you are a good candidate for a sleeve gastrectomy.

The conditions to undertake a sleeve gastrectomy

Sleeve gastrectomy is not a procedure to be taken lightly: you need to be aware of the after-effects of the operation, the importance of the follow-ups and the need to adopt a new mindset in order to achieve satisfactory results in the long term.

Many points must be respected in order for you to be a good candidate for the procedure:

BMI: BMI, or Body Mass Index, is one of the main factors to be considered in the patient during the preliminary consultation. Generally, surgery can be indicated if your BMI exceeds 35, but it can be considered from a BMI of over 30 if you have health concerns due to obesity.

You must have already tried dieting and physical activity, without having succeeded in losing weight effectively.

You should be as close as possible to your ideal weight.

Age: Generally, patients undergoing this procedure are between 18 and 60 years old.

You must be mentally prepared: the operation is irreversible, so you must be aware of the magnitude of the procedure. You must also be strong enough and disciplined enough to follow a rigorous lifestyle following the operation (adopt new eating habits, exercise, avoid certain foods, etc.).

You must not have any contraindications: you must not suffer from severe pathologies, and you must not have a psychological disorder.

You must be ready for the post-operative period: you will have to attend various check-ups in order to be monitored by a multidisciplinary team.

Ineffectiveness of other weight loss methods

If you have tried many conventional techniques in the past but have not been able to lose weight satisfactorily, then sleeve gastrectomy, or other bariatric surgery, may be the right solution for you.

The reason for this is that following a long diet or rigorous exercise regime in a disciplined way is not always possible for everyone. Whether due to lack of time, lack of motivation or other reasons, results are slow to come or do not come at all, and if you want to try a more direct and effective method. Sleeve gastrectomy can then help you to finally get rid of your obesity.

The importance of pre-operative consultations before your sleeve

Of course, as with any other surgical operation, pre-operative consultations should be scheduled. These consultations will allow the surgeon to assess your case, confirm whether or not you are suitable for the operation, and advise you on which surgical procedure is best for you (for example, in some patients, for different reasons, one bariatric surgery technique is more recommended than another).

Before confirming the procedure, you will need to prepare a full medical file, including a medical history, blood tests, previous operations and various tests which will be provided by the specialist in due course. Once you have completed all the tests requested, it will be possible to confirm whether you are eligible for the operation.

What are the contraindications?

During the preliminary examinations, you should of course not have any contraindications that could exclude you. Major illnesses can be a hindrance to the procedure, and you will also have to declare previous operations on the stomach.

Some of the possible contraindications to sleeve gastrectomy are:

Inflammation or pathology in the digestive system

Respiratory or cardiovascular disease

Have certain addictions, especially to alcoholic beverages

Suffering from certain mental disorders: during the preliminary consultation, if the surgeon realises that your obesity is linked to a psychological disorder, then he or she may recommend that you undergo therapy with a psychologist before any surgical procedure can be considered. The patient who wishes to undergo obesity surgery must be mentally and emotionally stable and have the mental strength to cope with the preparation, the operation, and the aftermath.

Be aware that surgery alone is not enough

Finally, if you really want to lose weight and finally have the body you’ve always dreamed of, you need to be aware that sleeve gastrectomy, or bariatric surgery in general, is not a magic solution; the result can be spectacular, but only if you take things very seriously and adopt the right mentality and habits, especially in the weeks and months following your operation.

The operation has a specific aim: to help you reduce the amount of food you eat at mealtimes. Since a large part of the stomach will be removed during the procedure, you will only be able to eat smaller portions, and the feeling of hunger will be considerably reduced on a daily basis (the part of the stomach removed secretes Ghrelin, which is the appetite hormone).

In addition to this, your willpower must be strong, and you will need to show consistency in order to keep a satisfactory and stable weight for as long as possible.

Thanks to a new lifestyle, a daily routine based on discipline, and a rigorous post-operative follow-up, you can expect to lose an average of 50% of your excess weight; this loss is already a great success, and will allow you to benefit from a better comfort of life and to considerably reduce potential illnesses directly or indirectly linked to obesity (breathlessness, cardiovascular problems, sleep apnea, etc.).