Sleeve gastrectomy is primarily a restrictive procedure and results in weight loss because the new stomach is only a fraction of its original capacity. Because you are able to eat only very small amounts of food, you tend to feel full much earlier. Overall this tends to result in fewer calories being taken in resulting in weight loss.
However, sleeve gastrectomy also has an effect on hormones produced by the stomach, especially ghrelin which is known to be an appetite stimulant. After sleeve gastrectomy, there is a sustained fall in ghrelin levels and – as a result – loss of appetite.
Another further advantage of the gastric sleeve lies in the fact that because it does not involve bypass of the bowel, there is much less risk of vitamin and mineral deficiencies which can sometimes occur after gastric bypass.
