PROCEDURE SURGERY :

The Gastric Sleeve procedure - or Sleeve Gastrectomy - is an operation in which the left side of the stomach is surgically removed. This results in a new stomach which is roughly the size and shape of a banana. Since this operation does not involve any "rerouting" or reconnecting the intestines, it is a simpler operation than the gastric bypass or the duodenal switch. Unlike the Lap-Band® procedure, the sleeve gastrectomy does not require the implantation of an artificial device inside the abdomen

Like the bypass, the sleevectomy is irreversible.  However, compared to the bypass, it is less traumatic in that it does not require any "rerouting" or "reconnecting" of the intestines, so the stomach functions as normal, but with a smaller capacity.  As a result, there are fewer restrictions on the types of food which patients can consume after surgery. This is seen by many patients as being one of the great advantages of the sleeve gastrectomy - the procedure reduces appetite and therefore helps patients to control their food volume intake. 

Postoperative management.
The patient is allowed to leave the hospital as soon as a few days after the surgery. This is usually on the third post operative day. The drain can be removed then. The patient is restricted to a clear liquid diet for 1 week, a semi-liquid diet for 1 week, followed by a pureed diet for another 3 weeks. If there are no problems, the patient is advanced to a regular diet. Sweets, alcohol and carbonated drinks should be banned. Exercising is encouraged from the second post operative week on.