Is a gastric sleeve right for me?

Weight loss surgery is not an appropriate option for everyone and not a decision to be taken lightly. You need to make sure you are fully aware of the risks, implications, benefits and changes that you’ll need to make to your lifestyle before undergoing any weight loss surgery, including a sleeve gastrectomy. It’s a big surgery after all.

A sleeve gastrectomy is not for you if you wish to lose a small amount of weight or sculpt a certain area of your body. A sleeve gastrectomy is a major weight loss tool to help individuals with obesity who have a high body mass index (BMI) and / or health conditions that are affected by their obesity.

Please take the words below as a general guideline. The BMI recommendations come from the ASMBS Guidelines and other factors which we use in our clinic. Of course, to determine your suitability you will need to visit a surgeon and preferably a dietitian and psychologist as well. See my article on how to choose a surgeon here.

You may be suitable for a candidate for gastric sleeve if you:

• Have a BMI of at least 40. OR
• Have a BMI of 30-40 and at least one serious obesity-related co-morbid condition.
• Are between 18 and 60 years old.
• Have seriously tried to lose weight with no success or only short-term success.
• Do not have any other health problem that may be causing excess weight gain.
• Are ready to make substantial lifestyle modifications, including changing their eating habits. (See my post on the gastric sleeve diet for after surgery for more info)
• Do not excessively consume alcohol.

What Is the Body Mass Index?

One of the determining factors that surgeons often use is your body mass index (BMI). You can calculate your BMI by dividing your weight (in kilograms) by you height (in square meters) (or you can do it here – it’s much easier!).

Although BMI doesn’t tell the whole story of your weight or health, it is a helpful tool for categorising people and it is the measure that the obesity surgery guidelines are based on.

Not sure?

If you’re not sure if the sleeve is the right option for you or have questions about life after surgery, you might like to read this post. The key here is to ask as many questions as you can. Ask your surgeon, ask your dietitian, ask your psychologist, and if you like, feel free to ask me. The more you know, the better able you’ll be to make the decision.