Gastric sleeve surgery (also referred to as the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, or LSG) is a relatively new technique for weight loss surgery.
The gastric sleeve procedure involves the surgical removal of a significant portion of the stomach — 60% or more. The portion of the stomach that remains resembles the size and shape of a banana (or a sleeve, hence the name gastric sleeve surgery).
Unlike the traditional gastric bypass surgery, the gastric sleeve / laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy does not require re-routing of intestines or implantation of an artificial device in the abdomen.
Gastric sleeve procedures have been used as the first treatment step in super-obese patients. Because it is a relatively new procedure, we do not know the long-term effects of gastric sleeve surgery as we do with other types of weight loss surgery. In fact, the FDA is currently conducting a clinical study on the benefits of gastric sleeve / laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, as compared to the gastric banding techniques.