Gastric Sleeve Surgery Prague

Gastric sleeve surgery (laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy) arranged through Royal Medical Prague is available with the da Vinci robotic surgical system — one of the most precise laparoscopic platforms available — for patients with BMI above 35. The procedure permanently removes approximately 80% of the stomach, creating a narrow sleeve-shaped gastric tube that restricts food volume and eliminates the fundus (the region that produces ghrelin, the hunger hormone), producing both mechanical restriction and hormonal appetite suppression. Royal Medical provides 4–5 nights of inpatient monitoring post-procedure — an extended stay reflecting the clinical significance of bariatric surgery — and coordinates with experienced Czech laparoscopic bariatric surgeons. Expected first-year weight loss is 30–50 kg, or 35–55% of total body weight.

Gastric sleeve surgery (sleeve gastrectomy) through Royal Medical Prague is the most commonly performed permanent bariatric procedure worldwide, combining mechanical restriction of food intake with a sustained reduction in appetite through elimination of the ghrelin-producing fundus. Unlike gastric bypass, it does not reroute the digestive tract, making it less physiologically complex; unlike the gastric balloon, it is a permanent anatomical change. Eligibility criteria at the Royal Medical partner bariatric centres follow standard international guidelines: a BMI of 35 or above, or BMI 30–35 with significant obesity-related comorbidities (type 2 diabetes, sleep apnoea, hypertension, or joint disease). The typical weight range of patients at the Royal Medical network is 105–200 kg. Psychological assessment and nutritional counselling are part of the pre-operative evaluation to confirm behavioural readiness for the lifestyle changes required post-operatively. The procedure is performed laparoscopically — four to five small port incisions in the abdomen — with the option of da Vinci robotic assistance. The da Vinci system translates the surgeon's hand movements into precise, tremor-filtered instrument movements through the laparoscopic ports, offering enhanced dexterity in the tight operative field. A calibration bougie (a flexible sizing tube) is inserted transorally to guide the correct sleeve diameter before the linear stapler is fired along the greater curvature, removing approximately 80% of the stomach. The remaining sleeve holds 80–120 mL of food — a fraction of the normal 900–1,500 mL gastric capacity. Four to five nights of inpatient care follow surgery: the first 24 hours in HDU-monitored conditions, then ward-level monitoring as the patient progresses from clear fluids to liquid diet. The Royal Medical coordinator supports the patient throughout this period and coordinates discharge planning, hotel logistics for the remaining Prague stay, and flight home. A post-operative dietary plan and follow-up schedule are provided before departure. The first year after sleeve gastrectomy sees the most significant weight reduction: on average 30–50 kg, or 35–55% of initial body weight, driven by the combined restriction and appetite suppression effects. Long-term success requires permanent dietary modification — smaller portions, high-protein priority, avoidance of high-calorie liquids — and is supported by the nutritional counselling programme. The ghrelin reduction effect is most pronounced in the first 12–18 months; thereafter appetite gradually returns toward a new set-point, though volume restriction remains permanent. Because sleeve gastrectomy is irreversible — the removed portion of stomach is permanently excised — Royal Medical emphasises thorough pre-operative evaluation and clear patient understanding of the permanent nature of the anatomical change before proceeding.