10 Biggest Benefits of Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Gastric sleeve surgery, also called laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy — or simply, “the sleeve" — is one of the most popular weight loss surgeries, and with good reason. Effective, long-lasting weight loss and a quick recovery are just some of the benefits of gastric sleeve. Let's look at all the benefits of the sleeve in more detail.

1. Starts Working Immediately

The gastric sleeve starts working immediately because it makes you feel full faster and decreases your appetite. As soon as the sleeve is created, only small amounts of food can pass through it, leading to weight loss.¹

2. Long-Lasting Results

While long-term outcomes of weight loss surgery depend on a person's lifestyle choices, people who get a gastric sleeve go on to experience long-lasting results. Research shows that most people maintain a weight loss of 51% to 54% more than 10 years after surgery.²

3. Minimally Invasive

The gastric sleeve procedure is minimally invasive. It's performed laparoscopically by inserting a thin tube with a camera through tiny incisions. It doesn't require a large incision or involve rerouting of the intestinal tract the way gastric bypass does. This makes recovery much quicker and less painful, with a lower risk of complications.¹ The sleeve may also be safer for people with high-risk medical conditions compared to open surgery such as gastric bypass.³

4. Smaller Appetite

Not only does the sleeve make you full faster, it also affects the production of a gut hormone that contributes to hunger. Removing a portion of your stomach reduces the amount of the hormone ghrelin, which is often referred to as the “hunger hormone." This is why many people find they are a lot less hungry after getting a gastric sleeve.⁴

5. Effective Weight Loss

Gastric sleeve is an effective weight loss solution. People who have the procedure can lose from 60%⁴ up to 80%⁵ of their excess body weight.

6. Reduction in High Blood Pressure and Other Weight-Related Conditions

Gastric sleeve has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of numerous weight-related conditions and some non-obesity-related conditions, including:⁵

• High blood pressure
• Type 2 diabetes
• Cardiovascular disease
• Stroke and heart attack
• Cancer
• Gout
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

7. No Foreign Device in Your Body

For those interested in minimally invasive weight loss procedures, the choices are Lap-Band® and gastric sleeve. The key difference between these procedures is that Lap-Band uses a gastric band made from silicone around the stomach to limit the amount of food you can eat at once.

Some people have adverse reactions to a foreign device in their bodies, which can lead to scar tissue forming around the band and symptoms such as persistent nausea and discomfort. There is also some risk of slippage and erosion. All of these can result in needing surgery to have the band adjusted or removed.⁶

8. It's Permanent – No Adjustments Necessary

The changes made to your stomach with the sleeve are permanent, unlike with the Lap-Band, which often needs to be adjusted, especially in the first year.⁶

9. Better Emotional Health

People with obesity often experience feelings of depression due to social stigma and poor body image, or because the excess weight makes it difficult to participate in activities they enjoy. Weight loss can lead to better emotional health in these instances, and weight loss surgeries such as gastric sleeve have been shown to significantly decrease depression.⁷

10. Increased Self-Esteem and Confidence

Better self-esteem and more confidence are known benefits of gastric sleeve and weight loss surgery in general. Participants of a recent study reported increased self-esteem and self-confidence following weight loss surgery and said it gave them the confidence to get out and try new things.⁸

CareCredit Credit Card Financing for Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Ready to revitalize your appearance and boost your confidence? The CareCredit credit card makes it easy to pay for gastric sleeve surgery and related expenses not covered by health insurance.* Apply today and use our Acceptance Locator to find a doctor or cosmetic surgeon near you that accepts CareCredit so you can stop dreaming and start living your best life. Continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your CareCredit account, find a provider on the go, and easily access the Well U hub for more great articles, podcasts, and videos.

Author Bio

Adrienne Santos-Longhurst is a writer who has been covering health and lifestyle for almost two decades. Her work has appeared in Healthline, Insider, Medical News Today and more.