We have discussed the many benefits of sleeve gastrectomy surgery at length on this blog because we believe in its overall effectiveness in combating obesity, morbid obesity, and health problems associated with excessive weight. When you come to our bariatric surgery center, we will be more than happy to go over the surgery in full detail so that you can decide if it’s right for you.
It’s important to us that patients of gastric sleeve surgery make the most well-informed decisions with regard to their surgical needs, which means knowing both the pros and cons of any surgery. Let’s take a moment right now to consider the potential risks of gastric sleeve.
How common are complications after gastric sleeve surgery?
We want to first point out that experiencing complications from gastric sleeve surgery is generally rare. We take great care in providing detailed pre-operative and post-operative instructions to patients so that the risk of complications are very low. In addition, we use the latest surgical techniques and operate out of a full-service hospital, meaning that the chances of serious medical errors are very low.
That said, it’s important to consider the following before you undergo gastric sleeve surgery.
Risk of Infection After Surgery
Any surgery carries with it the risk of infection, and gastric sleeve surgery is no exception. Modern sterilization and careful post-operative planning help drastically mitigate the chance of infection.
Risk of Leakage of the Altered Stomach
Since the stomach itself is reshaped and resized during the gastric sleeve surgery, there is the chance of possible leakage of the revised stomach. In order to prevent the possibility of leakage, we carefully check for leaks following surgery multiple times. If a leak is detected, we will address it in those crucial early days after surgery to ensure successful healing and long-term results.
Risk of Potential Injury to Other Organs
While gastric sleeve surgery is safe and we perform the surgery carefully, there is the very small possibility of potential injury to other organs around the stomach area. We take great care with our work, however, and will work conservatively and meticulously to make sure that such internal injuries do not occur.
How do the risks of gastric sleeve compare to other weight loss surgeries?
Compared to other bariatric surgery options, gastric sleeve surgery is less risky than gastric bypass surgery and only slightly riskier than gastric band surgery.
With regard to gastric bypass surgery, it makes sense that the gastric bypass would be riskier. The gastric bypass involves the revision of the stomach and part of the intestines, and this added surgical complexity makes complications more likely.
With regard to gastric banding, it also makes sense that it should be less risky when compared to the gastric sleeve. The band is placed around the stomach without the need for further surgical revision of the digestive tract. However, there is the risk that the gastric band will slip or require adjustments, and these need to be seriously considered.
Learn More About Gastric Sleeve Surgery
For more information about gastric sleeve surgery and how it can help you achieve the results that you’d like to achieve, we encourage you to contact our Tijuana weight loss surgery center today. The entire tam here looks forward to answering all of your questions with regard to bariatric surgery procedures so that you can make well-informed decisions about your wellness.
