Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy

Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, or VSG, was once the first stage in a two part surgery.  Surgeons first remove approximately 80% of the stomach along the greater curvature using tiny staples and/or sutures.  The remaining stomach appears to be a long slender tube or “sleeve”.  This sleeve only holds about 1-2 ounces of food at a time, greatly reducing the amount of food a patient can eat at once.  This procedure was so effective without the second part of a much larger operation, that the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery endorsed it as a stand alone procedure in 2009.  Since that time it has rapidly gained popularity due to the excellent weight loss outcomes, lower complication rate versus gastric bypass, and less intensive follow up as required by adjustable gastric banding.