Sleeve Gastrectomy Sleeve gastrectomy is a restrictive procedure that induces weight loss by restricting food intake.  Sleeve gastrectomy is usually performed on extremely obese or high risk patients.  A two-stage procedure is performed;  the first is a sleeve gastrectomy in which the stomach is reduced by surgical removal of a large portion of the stomach so that the stomach takes the shape of a tube or “sleeve, permanently reducing the size of the stomach.  The second procedure is a conversion into a gastric bypass or duodenal switch. The procedure is performed by laparoscopic surgery and is not reversible.

Some patients who lose large quantities of their excess weight after the first sleeve gastrectomy procedure prefer not to have the gastric bypass procedure performed.  However, if desired weight loss ceases the second step is performed.

Given that this procedure is relatively recent, no long-term results are available.  However, over the term of one year, patients have reached a weight loss of 35%-90% mainly because the stomach is largely reduced and it eliminates the portion of the stomach that produces hormones that stimulates hunger (ghrelin).