At Dr. Feiz & Associates, we offer the vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) as one of the many bariatric procedures for obese patients who have had no success with diet and exercise and are concerned about their health. Michael Feiz, MD, FACS will meet with any interested patient to discuss their many options for weight loss surgery and will present vertical sleeve gastrectomy as one of the choices. The VSG is an excellent choice for many, but not all. Briefly, here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of a vertical sleeve gastrectomy when compared to other weight loss procedures:

· Performed in a minimally invasive way through a laparoscope, the vertical sleeve gastrectomy reduces the size of the stomach without affecting what a person can eat, just the capacity they can eat.

· The VSG removes the portion of the stomach that produces ghrelin. Now, what is ghrelin? Ghrelin is the hormone that produces the sensation of hunger, meaning that patients who get the vertical sleeve feel less hunger, meaning they can make better nutritional choices.

· As opposed to the lap band procedure, the vertical sleeve is not reversible. However, the VSG can be converted to a gastric bypass if sufficient weight loss is not achieved and, similarly, many people unhappy with the lap band will convert their band to a sleeve.

Again, that is just a brief rundown of why many choose or choose not to receive the vertical sleeve gastrectomy. Dr. Feiz recommends getting a personalized, in-depth opinion from a bariatric surgeon before committing yourself to one type of procedure over another. Schedule a free consultation with Dr. Feiz today by contacting us online.