With the sleeve gastrectomy there is no implantation of a foreign body, such as a silastic ring used in gastric banding. The procedure mechanically decreases the size of the stomach, but also decreases the secretion of the hormone Ghrelin which is responsible for the feeling of satiety (fullness). The procedure offers the benefit of initially decreasing the body weight in the severely obese patient to prepare this patient for a staged procedure or other surgery at a later date.
