Gastric Sleeve Surgery | Denver Center for Bariatric Surgery

Gastric Sleeve

About the procedure

Gastric sleeve surgery involves our surgeons removing about 70% of your stomach utilizing four to five very small incisions. The result is a stomach roughly the size and shape of a banana. With the gastric sleeve, the portion of your stomach that produces appetite-stimulating hormones will be removed. With your newly-formed stomach, you will not be able to eat as much as before and will be less hungry. In turn, you’ll lose weight through decreased appetite and eating notably less.

Gastric sleeve surgery is for people who have a BMI of 40+ or 35+ with associated medical issues.

Superior Results

50lbsGastric sleeve median excess weight loss one year post-op

54.5%Gastric sleeve: excess weight loss median 1 yr. post-op

10.6ptsMedian BMI change one year after gastric sleeve

How It Works

This surgery takes about one to two hours to perform. It is performed under general anesthesia using a laparoscopic or robotic approach, with four to five small incisions.

You will most likely stay in the hospital for one to two days. This procedure permanently alters the shape of your stomach.

A grassy, hilly landscape
Request An Appointment

Health Benefits

Patients who undergo this kind of weight-loss surgery usually lose, on average, about 50-65% of their excess weight. Gastric sleeve surgery is highly effective at treating and causing the remission of diabetes, PCOS, high blood pressure, cholesterol disorders and other medical conditions associated with obesity. Patients have also reported improved self-confidence and willingness to engage in more activities, whether social or physical.

Overall, the weight loss caused by this surgery often has a ripple effect on other health issues, resulting in better health and happiness in general.

Gastric Sleeve Benefits

  • Long-term weight loss
  • Quick recovery
  • Resolution of major health issues caused by obesity

What Are The Risks?

As with all major surgeries, including weight-loss surgeries, there are possible risks that include blood clots, infections, leaks in your intestinal system, or breathing problems. Gastric sleeve surgery carries risks that are similar to any abdominal surgery. However, when performed in a center-of-excellence such as ours, the risks are about the same as having your appendix removed. In our program, our safety record is in-line with or exceeds the standards set by the ASMBS in all regards.

With all our weight-loss surgeries, we will teach you how to increase your success and maintain your weight through our detailed, pre-operative education program.

How Much Will Your Procedure Cost?

A gastric sleeve surgery can vary in cost and is covered by most insurance providers. Use our free insurance checker to see if you’re eligible for full coverage. Self-Pay and FastTrack patients can see our pricing for more information.

Get A Free Insurance Check

What To Expect After Your Procedure

A gastric sleeve surgery takes about one hour to complete and usually involves a night or two in the hospital for observation. The recovery is relatively quick and patients can usually move around immediately after the surgery. There will be some pain around the surgical site but this is treated with pain medication and generally subsides in a few days. How soon patients can return to work depends on the nature of their jobs. We advise patients to avoid heavy lifting for a month after surgery and those with desk jobs can go back to work after one to two weeks.

We recommend you take it easy for the first few days immediately after the surgery. Be communicative with your surgeon about when you can resume normal physical activity.