Gastric bypass and gastric sleeve are weight loss surgeries that focus on altering the digestive tract to hold as much food. They have different approaches to this goal, which is why gastric sleeve cost is different from that of bypass, but they still share some similarities. In this post, we will compare these two types of procedures to help you decide which one is right for you

Both surgeries involve a reduction in the size of your stomach, but there are some differences between them. Gastric sleeve surgery is minimally invasive, whereas gastric bypass has more risks, such as being put under general anesthesia. If you want to know more about these two weight-loss surgeries, keep reading.

Comparing Gastric Bypass and Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Gastric sleeve surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that involves removing about three-quarters of the patient’s stomach, leaving only a banana-sized section. This smaller stomach can still hold food, but it limits how much your body will digest at one time, so you feel full quickly and eat less overall. If you are considering a gastric sleeve, remember that it is not a lap band surgery. You will need to have a high degree of commitment as it is also accompanied by strict diet and lifestyle requirements.

Gastric bypass surgery, on the other hand, involves reducing the size of your stomach quite dramatically. This procedure often requires staples to be inserted into the stomach to hold less food at once. It is much more invasive than gastric sleeve surgery as it requires general anesthesia and a surgical tool called a laparoscope. If you consider getting this procedure done, please discuss all its risks with your doctor first.

The Main Differences Between Gastric Bypass and Sleeve

Gastric Bypass – This procedure involves creating a small upper stomach pouch about the size of an egg. The surgeon then connects the small intestine to this new stomach pouch bypassing most of the original stomach.

Gastric Sleeve – This procedure involves removing approximately 85 percent of your original stomach and forming a banana-shaped tube or “sleeve” out of it. The remaining 15 percent is sealed off and becomes your new, smaller stomach. This step mainly determines the gastric sleeve cost.

Gastric Bypass – The surgeon staples off the connection between the small intestine and large intestines to create a “pouch” about one ounce in size. This pouch fills up quickly with food which slows down digestion leading to smaller portions and fewer calories.

Gastric Sleeve – This procedure does not create a pouch but instead has the patient eat small meals that are about half of what they were eating before surgery. It is important to note that gastric sleeve patients will experience malabsorption (which means nutrients from food pass through your system without being absorbed).

Gastric Bypass – The stomach is reduced to less than an ounce in size. This means the patient will not be able to eat as much food at a single time, and they must chew their foods very thoroughly before swallowing.

Gastric Sleeve – With this procedure, the amount of food eaten at a single meal is typically larger than that following bypass.

We’ve provided you with enough information to make an informed decision about which of the two is the best weight loss surgery for you. Both have their positives and negatives and cost differently because they follow different procedures but can be equally effective for speedy weight loss if done right.

FAQs

Is gastric sleeve or bypass better?

Generally speaking, gastric bypass is a more effective weight loss surgery than the gastric sleeve. Weight-loss results are also commonly seen earlier with the former versus the latter. However, there have been many cases where patients lost greater amounts of weight and had better outcomes after undergoing gastric sleeve. The same result can be achieved through diet and exercise, cutting the gastric sleeve cost, depending on the patient.

What is cheaper, gastric bypass or sleeve?

There are a lot of misconceptions about what is cheaper, gastric bypass or sleeve. The truth is that they both cost the same amount on average and, in most cases, can be more expensive than other weight loss procedures depending on where you go to get them done. While there aren’t any fundamental differences between bypass and gastric sleeve costs, they do have a few key differences that you should look at before deciding.

Is gastric sleeve less invasive than bypass?

Gastric sleeve surgery is often preferred over gastric bypass because it’s less invasive, better for long-term weight loss, and patients can eat many types of food. Because there’s no staple line where the stomach was divided in half during a gastric bypass, an individual can lose more weight after gastric sleeve surgery. Another benefit to gastric sleeve is that it’s reversible, meaning an individual can have the procedure reversed if they are not satisfied with their weight loss following a gastric bypass or another method of bariatric surgery.