With more and more people struggling with obesity, gastric sleeve surgery is quickly becoming one of the most popular bariatric procedures around the globe. This incredibly swift process represents one of the most effective solutions for sustainable weight loss, often leading to life-changing results.
However, the method also results in aesthetic scars, which are among the most common aspects patients who plan to undergo this type of surgery are concerned about.
That’s why today’s article will answer any questions about gastric sleeve surgery scars you might have. Keep reading to find out what to expect, including scar locations and visibility, and learn how to deal with these scars after the operation.
Unfortunately, yes, all gastric sleeve surgeries will result in scars. However, the degree of scarring, including the size and visibility of scars and the healing process, will significantly depend on the type of gastric sleeve surgery and the surgeon’s experience and technique.
Traditionally, these procedures involved open gastric sleeve surgery, which required a large incision and led to visible scars. Fortunately, modern procedures have advanced beyond that, letting medical professionals handle these processes with a few much smaller incisions.
Compared to traditional open surgery, these modern techniques, which, in most cases, revolve around multi-port laparoscopic gastric sleeve surgery, require between four and six tiny incisions. They’re much smaller than anything traditional methods would make and let surgeons use medical instruments without leaving large visible scars.
For those particularly concerned with scar tissue, there’s sometimes the option of single-incision laparoscopic surgery, known as SILS. Still, you’ll have to consult your surgeon and check whether this applies to your case.
Like the size of the scars, their location also depends on the type of stomach reduction surgery you go through. For example, the abovementioned single-incision gastric sleeve surgery involves a small incision of between 15 and 20 millimeters near the belly button.
While it might seem like the obvious option, it also has certain disadvantages. For starters, there’s less freedom of movement as medical instruments are all close to each other, leading to more time in surgery as everything happens through one tiny hole.
On the other hand, and as its name suggests, a multi-point gastric sleeve surgery involves four to six incisions, which are typically smaller than the one that goes near the belly button. They’re between 5 and 10 millimeters and are strategically placed near the upper stomach.
It’s worth mentioning that other bariatric procedures, like duodenal switch surgeries or gastric bypass surgery, might involve additional incisions on your abdomen. You should always consult with your surgeon and discuss the recommended surgery and the locations of scars it’ll leave on your body.
Besides depending on the type of stomach reduction surgery and the bariatric surgeon operating on you, gastric sleeve scars also depend upon the individual and their skin type and aftercare.
Generally speaking, gastric sleeve surgery scars, particularly those from single-incision and multi-point laparoscopic surgeries, drastically decrease and fade with time. They first appear as tiny red marks, gradually fading and flattening over the first six months, with complete healing taking up to a year. However, proper aftercare, which often involves gel sheets, scar creams, and gentle massages that promote healing and prevent the scars from rising, can help speed up the process.
Patients undergoing this surgery should also avoid sun exposure for the first year, as UV rays can permanently darken these scars before they fully heal. Other things to avoid also include smoking, which can negatively impact skin elasticity and prevent scar healing.
Moreover, those who have experienced evident scarring after a gastric sleeve surgery can also benefit from additional solutions. For example, laser treatments and microdermabrasion can significantly reduce the visibility of gastric sleeve surgery scars.
If you’re considering gastric sleeve surgery and want to ensure a procedure that minimizes scarring, consulting Dr. Gökçe in Turkey is your best course of action. After all, Dr. Gökçe is a world-renowned and highly skilled bariatric surgeon with years of experience in the field.
Specializing in advanced laparoscopic techniques that reduce scarring, Dr. Gökçe can ensure that your gastric sleeve surgery goes without any complications and only leaves a single small scar or a few even tinier ones that you’ll barely notice.
You can rest assured that you’ll be in safe hands from start to finish, as Dr. Gökçe's clinic in Turkey provides high-quality, personalized, around-the-clock care for all patients. That ensures the entire experience goes smoothly and comfortably, and you leave a happy patient.
