Quick Reference Guide
- What is Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
- How does gastric sleeve surgery help people lose weight?
- What are the advantages of gastric sleeve surgery?
- What are the side effects and disadvantages of gastric sleeve surgery?
- Who makes a good candidate for gastric sleeve surgery?
- How is gastric sleeve surgery performed?
- What should I expect post-op following gastric sleeve weight loss surgery?
- What type of weight loss can be expected following gastric sleeve surgery?
- How is gastric sleeve surgery different from gastric bypass surgery?
- How do I prepare for my surgery date?
- When will my new diet begin?
What is Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
The gastric sleeve is most recently approved by the FDA but is still more than ten years old.
During gastric sleeve surgery, Dr. LeGrand removes 80% to 85% of the stomach and staples the remaining portion of the stomach together. This restrictive procedure limits the amount of food the patient can consume.

How does gastric sleeve surgery help people lose weight?
The vertical gastric sleeve is a metabolic surgery. By removing part of the stomach, Dr. LeGrand dramatically alters the neuro-hormonal pathways that control the sensation of hunger and the way your body manages the calories that we put in. There is a hormone called ghrelin that is made primarily in the part of the stomach that we remove. It is the primary driver in the hunger pathway. With the dramatic drops in the ghrelin levels seen after the procedure, there is a commensurate decrease in hunger. Gastric sleeve surgery also leads to an up-regulation of a hormone called GLP1, which is involved with our body’s control of glucose. In fact, many newer diabetes treatment mediations are designed to up-regulate GLP1. The gastric sleeve surgery does this without medication, and in this way, can cause remission of diabetes and metabolic disease quite rapidly.
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What are the advantages of gastric sleeve surgery?
What are the side effects and disadvantages of gastric sleeve surgery?
Who makes a good candidate for gastric sleeve surgery?
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How is the gastric sleeve procedure performed?

Dr. LeGrand performs the procedure laparoscopically, a minimally invasive approach, in about an hour. General anesthetic will be used to put you to sleep. Several small incisions will be made in your abdomen. Dr. LeGrand will insert narrow tubes in the incision that contain cameras and small surgical tools.
Dr. LeGrand will see the inside of your abdomen and safely make surgical adjustments to your stomach. Pieces of your stomach will be removed until it is about three-fourth of its original mass. Scarring, surgical risks and recovery time are minimized using this method. Only a few stitches will be needed to close the small incisions.
What should I expect post-op following gastric sleeve weight loss surgery?
You may stay in the hospital for one or two nights. Your first goals after surgery are to walk frequently and do breathing exercises with a tool called an incentive spirometer. You will be given blood-thinning medications to prevent blood clots. Patients are typically allowed to sip liquids a few hours after surgery.
What type of weight loss can be expected following gastric sleeve surgery?
Individual results vary, but people who have had gastric sleeve surgery, and comply with our guidelines, lose about 60% of their excess weight within 12 to 18 months. Proper diet and exercise can expedite your weight loss.
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How is gastric sleeve surgery different from gastric bypass surgery?
In gastric bypass, Dr. LeGrand makes a small pouch that bypasses the lower part of your stomach. Food is redirected to the top of the stomach straight into the small intestines. The gastric sleeve is similar, but the shape and size of the stomach after the procedure is more like that of a banana or hockey stick making the functional stomach more like a tube than a bag.
Gastric bypass can be dangerous for people who have over 100 pounds to lose, which makes the gastric sleeve a safer alternative.


How do I prepare for my surgery date?
Leading up to surgery, you’ll complete several evaluations and education preparing you for post-op success. You’ll practice new, healthy lifestyle skills early on because it takes time to develop new habits. Your results and success completely depend on your ability to permanently adopt healthy habits.
You may experience weight loss even before surgery because of your lifestyle changes. You should be encouraged by this weight loss and gain confidence in your long-term success. The gastric sleeve surgery, as well as support from your medical and personal teams, will help you remain successful.
When will my new diet begin?
Two weeks before surgery, you’ll begin a very strict diet. Calories and carbohydrates will be restricted while your intake of lean proteins will be increased. These dietary changes will help shrink the liver and prepare your body for a smooth transition to a new lifestyle. An oversized liver could compromise your success and make the surgery more dangerous.
Two days before surgery, you will switch to a liquid diet that may include broth and protein shakes. You may also be able to drink decaffeinated coffee and tea and eat Jell-O. Avoid caffeine as it could impact your procedure. No two patients are alike, so Dr. LeGrand’s orders may vary.