Sleeve surgery scars

Gastric sleeve surgery is a type of weight loss surgery which usually performs by laparoscopic technique. During the laparoscopic gastric sleeve surgery about 1 to 5 small incisions made on the abdomen in order to remove a large portion of the stomach. During the standard gastric sleeve surgery, the surgeon uses between 3 to 5 small incisions across the abdomen while in the single-incision laparoscopic surgery just one small incision applies inside of the belly button. The size of sleeve surgery scars is about one-inch-long in different parts of the abdomen.

Laparoscopic gastric sleeve scars (typically 3-5 incisions)

Sleeve gastrectomy also called gastric sleeve surgery is a type of weight loss surgery that involves the removal of a large part of your stomach. During the sleeve gastrectomy that typically performed laparoscopically, the surgeon removes about 80 percent of the stomach and just a tube-shaped stomach about the size and shape of the banana is left. By limiting the size of the stomach the patients can eat less food and feel full sooner.

It is the most popular weight loss surgery that uses 3- 5 incisions to insert trocars and a laparoscope. It is more effective than other invasive procedures like duodenal switch surgery and gastric bypass surgery.

Single-incision gastric sleeve scars

In single incision sleeve surgery, just one single laparoscopic incision is applied across the belly button. It is a good option for patients who prefer minimal scarring.

General guideline to minimize sleeve surgery scars

Depending on the type of sleeve the size of the incision is about an inch long and the process of healing scars depending on your body health. For treating your scars, you can use of antiseptic spray and wash your scars with soap and water every day and left them open to the air, avoid sun on scars and don’t pick scabs. After healing your scars, you can minimize scarring by different oils, vitamin E or even laser treatment. But you should pay attention that minimizing scars should be done after the healing process. Following are general guideline minimize scarring from the gastric bypass surgery:

• Follow the recommended incision care instructions
• Observe the dietary guidelines
• Do all recommended exercises
• Quit smoking
• Have enough rest
• Avoid caffeine and alcohol
• Keep away your scars from the sun
• Keep your scars clean to prevent infection
• Don’t pick scabs
• Keep the wound moist
• Massage the wound

Internal sleeve surgery scars

During the gastric sleeve surgery, the internal organs will move around that can cause internal scarring or adhesions. Internal scarring can cause body organs to stick to each other or to the walls of the abdomen. Internal scarring can occur for many patients after the surgery and usually don’t causes any problem although in some cases can cause intestinal blockage or bowel obstruction.

The symptoms of internal sleeve surgery scars are:

• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Intermittent bouts of crampy abdominal pain
• Severe abdominal pain
• Abdominal swelling
• Constipation
• Signs of dehydration
• Inability to pass gas

It is recommended to keep the scars moist and cover it as well as to use some oils that help soften your skin. Scars care is an important step after the surgery, you need to take care of your scars properly and attend all the follow-up visits and do all the recommended guidelines by your doctor.