How does the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy compare to the other surgeries? Simple operation with low mortality risk. Technically easy to perform with low peri-operative risks. Minimal short-term and long-term complication rates. Short-term risks of staple line bleeding or leakage are very rare. The only long-term risk is GERD in some patients. Weight loss comparable with the gastric bypass. Gastric sleeve is not reversible. Part of the stomach is permanently removed. It is important to understand that reversing any weight loss operation (such as gastric band or gastric bypass) will result in weight regain back to original weight. You should not have any weight loss operation if you intend to ever reverse it. Though gastric sleeve is not reversible, it can be changed to gastric bypass if there was any need. Most illnesses that are related to obesity can be improved or even cured by weight loss surgery. These include: sleep apnoea, diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, stress incontinence, depression, acid reflux, joint pain, as well as osteoarthritis. Losing weight for obese patients also means greater outcomes from pregnancy, increased fertility, and a lower risk of cancer. The surgery increases life expectancy, on the whole.