Serious Health Problems That Are Linked to Diabetes
Having diabetes predisposes you to other serious health complications. But modern weight loss surgery can put many of these health concerns in the rearview mirror.
Immediate Benefits of Gastric Sleeve
Being obese isn’t a walk in the park. You’re tired of carrying around so many extra pounds, even though you’ve tried dieting. Don’t give up. If you’re investigating surgical weight loss, consider the gastric sleeve option.
At Turnquest Surgical Solutions, our board-certified bariatric surgeons, Dexter Turnquest, MD, and Victoria C. Chang, MD, and our team are experts in weight loss surgery.
We discuss your goals, review your medical history, and evaluate your health with blood tests and other measures to determine your medical condition. We explain the different surgical weight loss choices, and pros and cons of each, then recommend a procedure for you based on your needs.
Who qualifies for gastric sleeve surgery?
If you’re obese or extremely obese, gastric sleeve surgery can be a good option for you, but you must commit to making changes in your lifestyle and eating habits.
We may recommend this surgery if your body mass index (BMI) is 40 or more, or if your BMI is 35-39 and you have a significant weight-related health issue like Type 2 diabetes.
What is gastric sleeve surgery?
This surgery removes a significant portion of your stomach, leaving a tube that resembles the shape of a banana.
We perform the operation laparoscopically, meaning that you only have a few tiny incisions in your skin rather than larger incisions used in open or traditional surgery. This helps you heal faster. We remove part of your stomach with tiny instruments using a camera and a light, which relay images to a computer monitor.
Benefits of gastric sleeve surgery
Gastric sleeve surgery has many benefits; some are immediate and some are longer term.
Weight loss is fast
Gastric sleeve surgery removes about 80% of your stomach. You simply won’t be able to consume as much food as you have in the past. You see results very, very quickly in the weeks after the operation.
You aren’t as hungry
One of the big challenges in your life has been food cravings. Gastric sleeve surgery eliminates so much of your stomach that your hunger hormones are gone.
Less pain as you move
Your joints will thank you if you have gastric sleeve surgery. Even 20 extra pounds places undue stress on your hips, knees, ankles, and other joints. If you’ve been obese for a while, you may have had a knee or hip replacement already because of joint damage.
After the operation, you may be able to discontinue taking pain medication. Being able to move without pain helps you as you start new exercise habits.
More energy
As the weight comes off quickly and you have less joint pain, you’ll have more energy than you may have had for years. You’ll be more motivated to get up off the couch and play with your children or grandchildren and engage in physical activities again.
Better mood
If you’ve been depressed, your mood is likely to improve after gastric sleeve surgery. You’ve taken a positive step for your health. As you start an exercise regimen, the activity may raise your endorphin levels. You may feel happier than you have in years.
Long term, the gastric sleeve procedure and the related lifestyle changes reduce your risk for many life-threatening diseases.
Contact one of our two Houston, Texas, locations today to book an appointment for a consultation on weight loss surgery. See what it can do for you.
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