Dr Frenzel has extensive experience performing the Gastric Sleeve procedure.
The Gastric Sleeve, also known as the sleeve gastrectomy, is a relatively new bariatric procedure that is increasing in popularity. It is an excellent weight loss operation and rivals the gastric bypass for weight loss without some of the possible complications of the gastric bypass. This procedure can be performed as a single operation or, in a super morbidly obese patient, it can serve as a first-stage operation before gastric bypass.
How a Sleeve Gastrectomy Works to Help You Lose Weight:
During the Gastric Sleeve surgery Dr. Frenzel creates a thin vertical sleeve of stomach using a stapling device. He removes about 75 to 80 percent of the stomach. The sleeve, or new stomach, is a long tubular structure and is about the size of a banana. A normal stomach can hold approximately 1.5 liters of food or liquid which is a very large volume of food. With the surplus of food we have access to, there is no need to have a reservoir that is so large, especially when the average person eats three to four full meals a day. This large reservoir sets us up for failure and significant weight gain. The sleeve gastrectomy procedure limits the amount of food you can eat and helps you feel full sooner. After Gastric Sleeve surgery, your new stomach will be able to hold about 50 ml instead of 1000-1500 ml. It allows for normal digestion and absorption. Food consumed passes through the digestive tract in the usual order, allowing it to be fully absorbed in the body. There is no re-routing of the intestines and decreases the likelihood of acquiring vitamin and nutrient deficiencies.
Are You a Candidate Who Can Benefit from the Gastric Sleeve Procedure?
- Persons with a BMI 35 or greater (Dr. Frenzel will consider patients with BMI’s between 30-35)
- Persons that need to lose 50 lbs or more
- Some patients deemed high risk in other bariatric surgeries
- Those who have experienced past failures with traditional weight loss methods
- Good mental health
- Age 18 or greater
*Results may vary
Dr. Frenzel is a Fellowship Trained Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgeon in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, which means that he does almost 100 percent of his surgeries using minimally invasive techniques. The vast majority of his sleeve gastrectomies are performed using a laparoscopic technique, which is considered minimally invasive. Laparoscopic surgery usually results in a shorter hospital stay, decreased complications, faster recovery, smaller scars, and less pain than open surgical procedures. In addition, Dr. Frenzel, with offices in Texarkana, Arlington, and Dallas, is a surgeon who believes in minimizing pain by using all the newest available technology. He is one of only a few surgeons that routinely uses pain pump catheters for his Gastric Sleeve surgeries. This allows for his patients to recover quicker with less discomfort.
The length of time of gastric sleeve surgery varies but in general Dr. Frenzel’s average operative time for a Gastric Sleeve is about one to one-and-a-half hours and his patients typically stay one night in the hospital or surgery center and his patients usually go home the next day. Patients return to normal activities in about one to two weeks and are fully recovered in three to four weeks.
The laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy can be the first step before a gastric bypass or it can be a single procedure for weight loss. If a sleeve gastrectomy is used as part of a two-step procedure, the first step is for the surgeon to create the small stomach “sleeve”. After a period of time determined by the surgeon, another procedure would be done in which the surgeon attaches a section of the small intestine directly to the stomach pouch. This allows food to bypass a portion of the small intestine. Doing so enables your body to absorb fewer calories, in addition to consuming less food. This two-step procedure may be done because patients may not be able to tolerate both procedures during a single operation. Studies show that the two-step procedure has been used successfully in patients with a body mass index greater than 50 or in high-risk patients.
Following Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Weight loss begins very quickly after the sleeve gastrectomy. It is typical for Dr. Frenzel’s Gastric Sleeve patients to lose 25-30 pounds in the first month and many of his Gastric Sleeve patients reach their weight loss goals in the first nine months. On average, one year after the sleeve gastrectomy, patients can expect approximately 60 to 80 percent excess weight loss. Results will of course vary, depending on your particular health conditions. Health problems related to obesity may also be resolved or improved, including the following:
- Diabetes
- Sleep apnea
- Hypertension
- Degenerative joint disease
- Hyperlipidemia
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Choosing to Undergo Gastric Sleeve Surgery
The decision to proceed with bariatric surgery like the Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy(LSG) is a big step toward changing your life and overall health. LSG is also a somewhat recent development in bariatric surgery, so research on its success is limited. However, because of Dr. Frenzel’s extensive experience in his practice with the gastric sleeve, he has no problem recommending it if you are a good candidate.
Begin your transformation and learn more about the sleeve gastrectomy at an information seminar. Do you live in Dallas, Fort Worth, or Arlington? Call Dr. Frenzel today!