Losing excess weight is by no means an easy undertaking. Bariatric surgeries have now been adopted widely as an option for weight loss. There are several types of these operations that exist. They include gastric banding, bypass and sleeve gastrectomy. Each of them is associated with a number of advantages and disadvantages. If they have intentions of undergoing gastric sleeve surgery Houston residents need to be aware of a number of things in mind.

Sleeve gastrectomy can be performed in isolation or as the initial procedure in bypass surgery. This operation involves the removal of a large section of the stomach (as much as 80%) so as to leave a small sleeve-shaped pouch whose capacity is just a fraction of the original. An incision is made along the vertical axis and after removal of the section, closure is done using stitches or staples.

The objective of performing this operation is to reduce the amount of food that an individual can consume in one sitting. With the small stomach size, there is faster filling and hence early satiety. The removal of a large section also means that the amount of gastric hormones that are released from the stomach lining will be markedly reduced. Appetite is thus reduced and the levels of glucose in the blood maintained within fairly normal ranges.

Most of the people who undergo the operation have impressive outcomes. The proportion of excessive weight lost within 6 months to one year approaches 50% if it is done successfully. This effect is similar to what would be achieved with gastric bypass but the advantage is that the unpleasant side effects of bypass are avoided. Another major advantage of gastrectomy is that the stomach innervation is spared and so are the valve mechanisms.

There are two main techniques that are employed: the open technique and the laparoscopic surgical option. The use of laparoscopy is by far, the more preferred options due to its many advantages over the open technique. One of these advantages is the fact that smaller incisions are used hence the resultant pain is a lot less. There is a lower risk for infection and patients generally have a quicker recovery.

There is a criteria that is used in selecting candidates to undergo the operation. One of them is the fact that they should have tried out lifestyle changes first. This is not a must but more of a general recommendation. The body mass index should ideally be 40 or more except in cases where the individual already suffers from weight related complications such as hypertension and sleep apnea.

There are a number of risks to this operation that exist. The more general risks include, the likelihood of excessive bleeding, injury to internal organs and infections. The more specific complications may include, for instance, leakage of food through the surgical incision on the stomach, esophageal spasms and stomach dilatation in the long term. Unlike gastric banding, the sleeve procedure is permanent and cannot be reversed if complications are encountered.

Surgery is emerging as a popular option of weight loss. The options that may be used when this option is chosen include sleeve gastrectomy, banding and bypass. Apart from your own preference, the skill and preference of your surgeon and the degree of your problem determine the type of operation to be used. Gastrectomy usually achieves desired results but has a downside in that it cannot be reversed.