Ghrelin, most simply, is the hormone produced in the stomach that causes hunger. Many seek the answer of how to decrease ghrelin in order to maintain healthy eating habits and lose weight. However, if you qualify for bariatric surgery, you could receive a procedure that helps you lose weight while also curbing the production of the hunger hormone ghrelin. Michael Feiz, MD, FACS has performed this procedure multiple times and seen the dramatic and life-enriching effects it has on his patients.

The vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) is a weight loss surgery where the majority of the stomach is removed in order to create a smaller stomach, allowing the patient to feel fuller faster. The part of the stomach that produces ghrelin is removed as well, minimizing the patient's sensation of hunger. This allows a patient, after surgery, to make better dietary and portion choices that aren't motivated by uncontrollable hunger. Dr. Feiz walks his patients through the recovery process, including dietary changes and the nutritional requirements of having a new stomach.

Also, many like the sleeve gastrectomy because it can be performed in a minimally invasive way. Dr. Feiz' innovative use of laparoscopic techniques leave only a few scars. The procedure also doesn't affect the type of foods a patient can eat, just the volume, which means they don't experience symptoms like dumping syndrome commonly associated with other procedures. The VSG is a powerful tool for weight loss, though it isn't necessarily right for everybody. To find out if you qualify for a sleeve gastrectomy, contact Dr. Feiz' office today by calling 310-817-6911.

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