For the last decade, gastric sleeve surgery has been the most often performed bariatric surgery in the United States. Every year, about 160,000 people choose gastric sleeve surgery as a medical intervention to help them lose weight.
In the past few years, some bariatric surgeons have started to offer what they call a mini gastric sleeve, but many people do not know how a mini gastric sleeve vs. a traditional gastric sleeve compares. Then you add in the newer non-surgical endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty procedure, and it can be very confusing trying to figure out which one might be the solution you are looking for.
Today, we are going to look at mini gastric sleeve surgery, explain what it is, and how it compares to the traditional gastric sleeve, as well as talk about endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) and why more people are choosing to forego surgery for this less invasive medical intervention.
What Is A Mini Gastric Sleeve?
The mini gastric sleeve is also sometimes referred to as the “loose sleeve” and is a smaller version of the traditional gastric sleeve surgery. Both involve reducing the individual’s stomach size so they cannot eat very much at each meal, and they stay fuller for a longer time, but the mini version is slightly different.
During mini gastric sleeve surgery, only about 35 to 55 percent of the patient’s stomach is removed from the area known as the greater curve. The surgeon cuts away the unwanted tissue and then staples the stomach into a smaller tube shape, just like in the traditional gastric sleeve.
The difference is that in a traditional gastric sleeve, around 80 to 85 percent of the stomach is removed. The mini version is called the “loose sleeve” because it is less restrictive but still limits how much you can eat. A large portion of the tissue that is removed is responsible for producing ghrelin, which is called the “hunger hormone,” and with a significant drop in this hormone being released into your system, it helps significantly reduce how hungry you feel, so you eat less.
Mini Gastric Sleeve vs. Gastric Sleeve
The traditional gastric sleeve is also known as vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and is more aggressive than the mini gastric sleeve because a larger portion of the stomach is permanently removed. Because more of the patient’s stomach is removed, it often can result in rapid and dramatic weight loss, especially right after the surgery.
Traditional gastric sleeve surgery can come with more side effects, and some people may struggle with ongoing vitamin deficiencies or find that eating becomes uncomfortable. Recovery can also take longer because of how much of the stomach is removed.
The mini gastric sleeve version is a little more flexible and allows the individual to eat a bit more food, which may be easier to tolerate for some people, but it might not promote the same level of weight loss. It may be a good solution for people who need surgery and want more moderate results.
Who Might Choose To Undergo A Mini Gastric Sleeve?
Mini gastric sleeve surgery may be an option for people who need help with weight loss but want a less extreme version of a traditional gastric sleeve. It might work well for someone with a lower BMI or someone who is concerned about experiencing nutritional deficiencies in the future. It may also be a good option as a first step in a staged bariatric surgery weight loss plan.
Like any type of surgery, it comes with risks like bleeding, leaks from the staple line, infections, and a longer recovery time compared to non-surgical options, which would make it a choice only if the situation were critical and other weight loss efforts have not worked.
A Non-Surgical Alternative to Gastric Sleeve
In all honesty, why would anyone choose to have surgery if they could get almost the same weight loss potential as a gastric sleeve but without any incisions or a hospital stay and a recovery time of only three days?
Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) is a non-surgical procedure that uses an endoscope, which is a flexible tube with a camera attached, that is used to make your stomach smaller without using any incisions.
The doctor inserts it through your mouth and lowers it down into your stomach. Its hollow design allows the doctor to lower other special tools down the endoscope, which is used to place sutures in strategic places that reduce the size of your stomach and form it into a smaller, elongated tube shape. There is no cutting, no stapling, and no serious risks compared to the gastric sleeve surgery. You go home the same day, and most people are back to their normal schedule within a few days.
ESG works very similarly to the way gastric sleeve surgery does by shrinking the capacity of your stomach, helping you to eat less and feel full longer, so you lose weight. People are seeing very impressive weight loss results that are often comparable to what you would see from gastric sleeve surgery, and many have lost over 100 pounds. The significant weight loss potential and the fact that ESG avoids the risks and long recovery times that come with surgery are making it a very popular option for many people who have needed the help of medical intervention but did not want to have surgery.
Where Can I Get Non-Surgical ESG To Help Me Lose Weight?
Reveal Weight Loss offers endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) along with other non-surgical weight loss solutions for people who need help losing weight but do not have the time or the desire to undergo a long recovery.
If you are looking for help with weight loss to improve your health, and diet and exercise alone have not worked for you, the team of experts at Reveal Weight Loss can offer you much less invasive options that are safe and effective. They will help determine the best solutions and strategies for you and can create a plan that is custom-tailored just for you and your circumstances. If you want significant weight loss results without surgery, ESG might be just what you are looking for. Set up a consultation to learn more and get started on the road to better health.
