Gastric sleeve surgery is a relatively new kid on the block when it comes to bariatric surgery. Technically called gastric sleeve resection, it is typically used to safely jump-start the surgical weight loss process in people who are too obese or sick to have more invasive weight loss surgeries or are not candidates for gastric banding.

Put another way, gastric sleeve surgery lets such people reach a safe weight so they can then undergo the more radical gastric bypass surgery or duodenal switch surgery. The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery states that this is the most useful application of gastric sleeve surgery at this time, because it appears to be faster and/or easier than other weight loss surgeries in these high-risk people.

Other names for gastric sleeve resection are sleeve gastrectomy, vertical sleeve gastrectromy, tube gastrectomy and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

During this procedure a bariatric surgeon removes about 60 percent of the stomach so that it takes the shape of a tube or sleeve

This operation is performed laparoscopically, meaning that the surgeon makes small incisions as opposed to one large incision. He or she inserts a viewing tube with a small camera (laparoscope) and other tiny instruments into these small incisions to remove part of the stomach. The tube-shaped stomach that is left is sealed closed with staples.

It is often followed by a gastric bypass or duodenal switch after the patient has lost a significant amount of weight. Called a "staged" approach to weight loss surgery, this makes the second procedure less risky than it would have been had it been the first and only procedure.

The timing of the second surgery varies according to the degree of weight loss. It usually occurs within six to 18 months.