Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Sometimes, doctors recommend weight loss surgery (also known as bariatric surgery) for very overweight teens who have tried and failed to lose weight on normal diet and exercise plans.

There are several different types of weight loss surgeries. One type is gastric sleeve surgery, also known as sleeve gastrectomy.

What Is Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

In gastric sleeve surgery, a surgeon removes part of the stomach and makes a narrow tube or "sleeve" out of the rest. The new, banana-shaped stomach is much smaller than the original stomach. Part of the stomach that's removed makes hormones that increase appetite and help control insulin. So, after surgery a person's appetite decreases and their insulin resistance gets better.

The person will eat less, feel full sooner, and be less hungry. The gastric sleeve procedure is not reversible.