Weight Doctors BARIATRICS® Gastric sleeve

The operation itself takes about 75 minutes. It is carried out under general anaesthesia and using keyhole surgery, that is through a few small incisions in the abdominal wall instead of a large abdominal cut. Only a few small scars remain.

In advance, a gastroenterological preliminary examination clarifies whether anything speaks against the surgery. After the procedure, experienced nursing staff look after you; a few blood tests follow before discharge. For good healing, a special liquid-based diet is then prescribed for 4–6 weeks. After a gastroenterological check-up, you gradually rebuild your diet back to normal with our coaches.

You usually stay 1 night as an inpatient. A few blood tests follow before discharge. You are generally socially presentable again after 10–14 days.

The stomach is reduced by about 75–80%. What remains is a tube 2–3 cm wide with a volume of about 150–200 ml – roughly the size of a small banana.

We recommend gastric sleeve surgery from a BMI of 40, in exceptional cases also below. Only adults aged 18 and over are treated.

Weight Doctors BARIATRICS® is available from £16,900, including private-practice preliminary examination and aftercare. Payment in instalments via Ideal4Finance is possible. All prices at a glance: Costs & prices.

The gastric sleeve is intended for weight-loss goals of around 40–50 kg. Studies show an average loss of 33–83% of excess weight within 6–12 months. Results vary from person to person and depend heavily on how consistently you change your diet and exercise.

The gastric sleeve is usually the first choice from a BMI of 40, the gastric bypass rather from 45 and with a very large weight-loss goal. If your excess weight comes mainly from sweet foods, sweet drinks or alcohol, or if you already have reflux, the bypass often makes more sense. We decide this together in the consultation.

Yes, as with any operation: infection from stomach juices leaking, with a risk of peritonitis, wound infections at the puncture sites, injury to other organs or blood vessels with bleeding, weakening of the abdominal wall or abdominal wall hernias, adhesions, gallbladder diseases or gallstones, blood clots with possible pulmonary embolism, vitamin deficiency and (temporary) disorders of gastrointestinal function. Life-threatening emergencies can also occur, for example due to the anaesthesia. Your individual risk depends heavily on your state of health.

Yes, acid reflux and heartburn can newly occur or worsen after the operation. We therefore advise against the gastric sleeve if you have existing reflux disease. Symptoms after the operation can be treated – more under Reflux after gastric sleeve.

The operation is not reversible and fundamentally changes your digestion. You therefore take nutritional supplements for life: daily multivitamin preparations and, depending on your blood values, also vitamin D, vitamin B, iron and calcium supplements. The intestine can no longer absorb enough vitamin B12; it is supplied for life, for example by injection into the muscle or as a short infusion. In the long term, results are better if you eat a balanced diet, take the supplements regularly and attend check-ups.

Yes, over time the stomach tube can widen. Larger portions then fit in again, and the feeling of fullness sets in later. Typical signs: you can eat more than in the early period, cravings return, or weight rises over months. A gastroscopy and imaging can measure whether and how much the stomach has widened. Have such signs checked early – more under Regained weight after weight-loss surgery.

Yes, in some people weight returns after years. Your Weight Doctors® team therefore supports you with nutrition and exercise programmes, in person and digitally. If the effect wears off, a correction is possible, for example a re-sleeve or conversion to a bypass: Weight Doctors® REVISION.

No. The removed part of the stomach does not grow back; the reduction is permanent. If the effect wears off after years or symptoms occur, however, a correction is possible, for example a re-sleeve or conversion to a gastric bypass.