Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy

All Inclusive Package Price $11000

Why choose the package?

The procedure alone costs £3995 without taking into consideration any travel, accommodation or other costs. Everything is included in the package – and we take care of all the arrangements for you.

What’s included in the package price?

• FREE DIRECT RETURN FLIGHTS LONDON STANSTEAD – BRNO BY RYANAIR
• ALL TRANSFERS AIRPORT- HOTEL – CLINIC
• ONE NIGHT’S STAY IN A LUXURY HOTEL ON YOUR ARRIVAL
• OUR PERSONAL ATTENTION - One of us will be there in Brno to meet you at the hotel and to accompany you to the clinic for your procedure. We will visit you afterwards too – making sure everything goes well for you
• All pre-operative tests and investigations (*1 see below )
• Pre-operative consultations with Dr Cierny
• The Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy procedure
• All medicines and dressing whilst at the hospital and during your stay.
• All post-operative check-ups and examinations during your stay
• Four nights’ stay at the clinic in your semi private (sharing with one other patient from the UK)  room
• Cosmetic Bliss after care package, dietary and nutrition advice and weight monitoring
• RETURN VISIT TO BRNO AFTER  ONE YEAR FOR BARIATRIC EXAM AND CONSULTATION WITH DR CIERNY, INCLUDING FLIGHTS, TRANSFERS AND 1 NIGHT’S HOTEL

• 10% discount on future cosmetic surgery procedures

What extra costs are there?

• NONE - WE ARRANGE AND PAY FOR EVERYTHING FOR YOU
• If you wish to take a friend/partner with you we can arrange their discounted accommodation at an extra charge. Just let us know at the time of booking. We will also be happy to extend your stay for you if you wish to do some sightseeing after your procedure.

What is a Sleeve Gastrectomy, and how does it work?

The Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy procedure is performed regularly by less than 50 specialist surgeons worldwide. The earliest forms of this procedure were conceived of by Dr. Jamieson in Australia (Long Vertical Gastroplasty, 1993) - and by Dr. Johnston in England in 1996 (Magenstrasse and Mill Operation).  Dr Gagner in New York refined the operation to include gastrectomy (removal of stomach) and offered it to high risk patients in 2001. 

Several surgeons worldwide have adopted the procedure, including Dr.Cierny in Brno, and have offered it to low BMI and low risk patients as an alternative to laparoscopic banding of the stomach.

At first it was offered to very high BMI patients as the first stage in a two stage procedure, the second stage being Gastric Bypass. The Sleeve Gastrectomy was seen as a much less risky procedure, enabling these patients to lose sufficient weight to enable them to have a safe Bypass at a later date.

Because of the successful results obtained from the Sleeve Gastrectomy alone on these patients, it was decided to offer the procedure as a “stand alone” operation, and to recommend it as a very effective alternative to laparoscopic banding of the stomach to patients who qualify for Bariatric Surgery.

Please check your B.M.I. on our calculator.

The sleeve gastrectomy is an operation to limit how much food you can eat by significantly reducing the size of your stomach (by 75% or more). The left side of your stomach is surgically removed, resulting in a new stomach which is roughly the size and shape of a banana. It is carried out laparoscopically, under a general anaesthetic, like the band, with 5 or 6 very small incisions, and is therefore much less traumatic than open surgery, with a shorter healing time and less risk. Since this operation does not involve any "rerouting" or reconnecting of the intestines, it is a simpler operation than the Gastric Bypass or the Duodenal Switch, and you’ll suffer none of the side effects experienced by bypass patients because your digestion is unaltered.

Although your stomach will be much smaller, its function remains the same and you will still be able to absorb all the vital nutrients you need without having to take supplements. You will note that there is no intestinal bypass with this procedure, only stomach reduction.  The lack of an intestinal bypass avoids potentially costly long term complications such as marginal ulcers, vitamin deficiencies and intestinal obstructions. 

The portion of your stomach which is removed is responsible for secreting Ghrelin, which is a hormone that is responsible for appetite and hunger. By removing this portion of your stomach rather than leaving it in place, the level of Ghrelin is reduced to almost zero, resulting in a significant reduction or loss of appetite.  An excellent study by Dr. Himpens in Belgium demonstrated that the food cravings in Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy patients 3 years after surgery are much less than in Lap Band patients and this probably accounts for the comparatively greater weight loss.

The removed section of the stomach is actually the portion that “stretches” the most.  The long vertical tube shaped stomach that remains is the portion least likely to expand over time and it creates significant resistance to volumes of food.  Not only is your appetite reduced, but very small amounts of food will give you early and lasting feelings of fullness!

Most patients lose around 50% of their excess weight within the first 12 months after a sleeve gastrectomy.

The sleeve gastrectomy has a number of advantages over other bariatric procedures, and it may be a better solution for you than the Adjustable Gastric Band. Unlike the band, a sleeve gastrectomy does not require the implantation of an artificial device inside your abdomen, or frequent adjustment (filling and emptying saline solution by injection through a port under your skin)  Dr Himpens and his colleagues in Brussels have published 3 year results comparing 40 Lap-Band patients to 40 Laparoscopic Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy patients.  The Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy patients had a superior excess weight loss of 57% compared to 41% for the Lap Band group.

Am I a suitable candidate for the Sleeve?

We believe you would be most likely to benefit from the sleeve if:

• You have a BMI of 40 and above (or 35 with co morbidities i.e. other serious health problems associated with your weight* -see explanation below)
• You are at least 18 years old, and under 60.
• You have been overweight for more than 5 years.
• Your serious weight-loss attempts have had only short-term success.
• You are not suffering from any other diseases that may have caused your obesity.
• You do not suffer from Hiatus Hernia, or other gastric problems which may prevent a Sleeve Gastrectomy from being offered (in which case a Band may possibly be the solution instead)
• You are prepared to make substantial changes in your eating habits and lifestyle.
• You are reluctant to have a device implanted in your abdomen, and are prepared to consider a “once and for all” solution to your weight problem.
• You are prepared to stay in touch with us and with Dr Cierny in the months after your procedure to provide feedback and report on your state of health and general well being, and to give us regular weight loss records. This is a very important part of your post-operative care.

Illustration of  Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy

 

What pre operative tests will I have?

* 1 On the day of your admission to the hospital the following preoperative exams are on the schedule:

• laboratory test of your blood and urine
• abdominal ultrasound examination (sonography),
• lung and heart X-ray (RTG),
• electrocardiography (ECG) possibly with ergometry
• spirometry possibly with complete pulmonary examination
• endoscopic examination of the stomach (gastroscopy)
• evaluation of your general health status by the internal medicine specialist and by the anaesthesiologist.
• final preoperative consultation by the psychologist and the bariatric surgeon

           

What risks are involved in Bariatric Surgery?

All forms of surgery carry a degree of risk, but in evaluating you for suitability for Bariatric surgery it must be borne in mind that the risk of an operation is much lower than the risk of staying morbidly obese on a waiting list for treatment.

Even though surgery is performed with great skill and care there is a small possibility of a complication during the operation or postoperatively. These complications are rare, and part of the reason Dr Cierny insists on your staying in the clinic for four days after your surgery is to be able to monitor you closely and ensure your complete recovery.

Further information on any complications and risks associated with Bariatric surgery can be found in the FAQ’s section of the website.

 

*Co-morbidities are medical conditions that exist in addition to obesity and are often a result of being overweight.  Co-morbidities are a factor in determining a patient's eligibility for bariatric surgery. 

Co-morbidities include:-  Type II diabetes mellitus;  Obstructive sleep apnoea;  Hypertension;  Venous stasis disease;  Significant impairment in activities of daily living;  Stress urinary incontinence;  Gastroesophageal reflux disease;  Fertility problems;  Obesity-related psychosocial stress; Sexual dysfunction;  Degenerative joint disease;  Chronic back pain Osteoarthritis; Gallbladder disease;  Asthma; Congestive heart failure;  Anaemia;  Menstrual irregularity;  Carcinoma (breast, colon, uterine cancer).

Will the surgery be successful?

Weight loss Surgery is the only statistically proven effective treatment for Morbid Obesity. We believe that the less invasive, more straightforward surgical treatments such as Sleeve Gastrectomy and Gastric Banding can achieve results that can transform and prolong the lives of our patients. You can click here to read what some of our patients think, but as a picture is worth a thousand words here are two photographs of one of our patients. The first was taken before her surgery, and the second around 6 months post (sleeve) op.

Photo 1 Mrs C pre-op : Photo 2 Mrs C 6 months post-op

Click here to read a testimonial.

Please click here to read Mrs C's testimonial

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