Affordable Gastric Sleeve Surgery in Iran | Expert Weight Loss

Surgery is typically considered when you have moderately to severely elevated body mass index (BMI) and weight-related health problems: for example, a BMI of 40 or greater (extreme obesity), or a BMI of 35–39.9 with serious obesity-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, or heart disease. Before the procedure you usually must demonstrate commitment to lifestyle changes and meet screening criteria (nutrition, psychological, medical evaluation) to ensure you can engage in long-term follow-up.

As with any major surgery, risks include bleeding, infection, adverse reactions to anesthesia, blood clots, lung or breathing problems. Specific to the sleeve procedure you may face a leak at the staple line where the stomach was divided, narrowing or stricture of the remaining stomach, or worsening acid reflux (GERD) in some cases. Long-term risks include nutritional deficiencies because you will eat less: although the intestines are not rerouted, you still must take vitamins lifelong.

Most patients undergo the procedure via laparoscopic (minimally-invasive) techniques and go home in 1–2 days after surgery if uncomplicated. Immediately after surgery you begin a graduated diet: clear liquids for the first week or two, then pureed/soft foods, then small solid meals. You’ll need to commit to lifelong follow-up, gradually increase physical activity, and monitor nutrition, vitamins and weight closely to achieve lasting results.

On average, patients can lose about 25-30 % of their total body weight, or as some sources state, about two-thirds (≈66 %) of their excess body weight during the first 12–18 months. Another source estimates 60 % of excess weight in 12–18 months. However, outcomes vary greatly depending on your starting BMI, how well you adhere to diet/exercise, whether your stomach sleeve stretches (“dilates”) over time, and whether you maintain lifestyle changes long-term. 

The sleeve gastrectomy is considered irreversible — once the large portion of stomach is removed it cannot be restored. Compared with other surgeries such as the gastric bypass, the sleeve is simpler (no intestinal rerouting), generally lower risk of long-term malabsorption, and fewer long-term complications like internal hernia or marginal ulcers.  However, for patients with severe GERD or specific gastrointestinal motility issues, other operations may be preferred.