Bariatric Surgery

Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastectomy

Bariatric surgery works by changing the functional size of your stomach, the length of your small intestine, or both. The goal is to limit how much food can be eaten and/or absorbed at one time. This, in turn, causes weight loss. Additionally, gastrointestinal hormonal changes occur that can favorably alter a person's metabolism, further contributing to weight loss and the improvement and/or elimination of obesity related medical problems.

Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy is one of the procedures we perform at Central Maine Bariatric Surgery. It is a restrictive procedure which means you will feel fuller after eating a smaller amount of food and it can be used as an alternative to laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding and laparoscopic gastric bypass.

In performing a sleeve gastrectomy, the surgeon takes out the better portion of the redundant, food storing portion of the stomach. Using our minimally invasive surgical instruments, the surgeon leaves the stomach the shape of a tube or "sleeve." After recovery, the patient can continue to eat, but will feel full and satisfied with much smaller portions.

The Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy is one of the procedures you can learn about by attending one of our Bariatric Surgery Information Sessions. And, of course, if you visit our Bariatric Surgery Practice, one of our health care professionals can explain the surgery in greater detail.