Book Now Gastric sleeve surgery, combined with healthy lifestyle changes and a nutritious diet, is an effective tool for achieving significant, long-term weight loss. At The Bariatric Experts™, our team has performed over 6,000 gastric sleeve procedures, providing patients with an experienced, structured approach to long-term weight loss. Serving Frisco, Plano, Dallas, The Colony, Lewisville, Denton, Canton, Waco, Abilene, Texas, and welcoming patients traveling from Oklahoma communities including Lawton, Norman, and the Oklahoma City metro, Scott Stowers, DO performs gastric sleeve surgery and coaches you as you implement healthy lifestyle changes before and after the procedure.
What Is Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
Gastric sleeve surgery, or sleeve gastrectomy, is a weight loss surgery that is restrictive only, meaning it keeps your digestive system’s function intact.
At The Bariatric Experts™, Dr. Stowers performs gastric sleeve surgery using state-of-the-art robotic technology and laparoscopic techniques. Through small incisions, a robotic-assisted system and slender lighted camera work together to provide enhanced precision — resulting in minimal recovery time and less scarring.
During the surgery, Dr. Stowers removes 80% of your stomach. He removes the portion from your stomach’s outer curvature, and a special stapler is used to form a banana-shaped stomach.
In its entirety, gastric sleeve surgery typically takes about one hour. You’ll be under general anesthesia the whole time, so you won’t feel anything or consciously remember the experience. In most cases, you’ll need to spend one night in the hospital recovering before you can go home after gastric sleeve surgery.
Comparison of Weight Loss Options
Sleeve
Bypass
Weight Loss Injections
- Decreased hunger
- Long-term weight loss
- Improvement of Type 2 diabetes and other conditions
- Decreased hunger
- Long-term weight loss
- Improvement of Type 2 diabetes and other conditions
- Non-invasive
- Jump-start weight loss before surgery
- Not reversible
- Potential for malnutrition
- Must continue to maintain weight loss
- Potential for long-term side effects
- Potential for abuse, dependence, and withdrawal
*Calculation based on the average age of 40 for weight loss surgery patients and a life expectancy of 75.
1 Harvard Medical School. Understanding new weight loss drugs. Available: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-new-weight-loss-drugs#. Accessed April 8, 2024.
What Are the Benefits of Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
Unlike diets or weight loss medications, gastric sleeve surgery creates lasting metabolic changes that go beyond willpower or habit alone. By physically restructuring the digestive system, the procedure resets the way your body regulates hunger, processes food, and stores fat — making it a fundamentally different approach to long-term weight loss.
One of the most significant benefits is the reduction in appetite. With a smaller stomach, you’ll feel full more quickly and find it easier to manage portion sizes naturally.
But the physical reduction in stomach size is only part of the story. Ghrelin — the hormone largely responsible for triggering hunger and signaling the need to eat — is significantly reduced when Dr. Stowers removes the ghrelin-producing portion of the stomach during surgery. While hunger does gradually return around one year post-op, the reduced stomach size continues to promote feelings of fullness, supporting long-term success.
How Should I Prepare for Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
Dr. Stowers gives you a detailed set of instructions to follow before your gastric sleeve surgery. They can vary according to the individual but generally include:
- Consuming a liquid-only diet for one week before surgery
- Fasting starting at midnight before your surgery
- Participating in pre- and post-surgery lifestyle education class
- Weaning off of carbonated and caffeinated beverages
- Smoking cessation
Dr. Stowers and his team work closely with you before surgery to ensure you’re on track for a successful operation. You will know exactly what to expect before surgery, the day of surgery, and after surgery.
Gastric sleeve surgery is an excellent option for weight loss surgery to set the stage for healthy long-term changes. To find out if weight loss surgery is right for you, call The Bariatric Experts™ for a consultation or book your appointment online today.
All-Inclusive Self-Pay Package for Gastric Sleeve
$10,950
as low as
$288/mo
with financing*
Our Self-Pay Prices vs National Averages
Industry averages from www.bariatricsurgery-source.com
I highly recommend you join the TBE team! Besides the weight, you have nothing to lose!
The journey with the Bariatric Experts was everything I could hope for in a medical team that was about t...
Procedure: Gastric Sleeve. Total Weight Loss: 64 lbs.
The Bariatric Expert team was more than amazing! They were there for me every step of the way and held my...
I’m mind blown at how far I’ve come – 166 lbs down from my highest weight, 140 since surgery (6 lbs away ...
Gastric Sleeve Success Story
Gastric Sleeve Surgery FAQs
The amount of weight you’ll lose with gastric sleeve surgery varies based on how well you commit to the diet and exercise plan required after the surgery. Most people who undergo gastric sleeve surgery lose about 70% of their excess weight within 12-18 months of their surgery.
Gastric sleeve surgery typically takes about one hour to complete, although total time at the surgical facility will be longer to include preparation, anesthesia, and recovery.
Most patients spend one night in the hospital following surgery. Recovery involves a gradual transition from liquids to solid foods, along with guided lifestyle changes. Many patients return to light daily activities within a few days, with full recovery progressing over several weeks.
At The Bariatric Experts™, self-pay pricing for gastric sleeve surgery starts at$10,950, depending on your individual treatment plan. Your exact cost will be confirmed during your consultation, where your care team will review what is included and discuss insurance and financing options if applicable.
For many patients, living with obesity is more dangerous than having the surgery. According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the risk of death associated with bariatric surgery is
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Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
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less than 0.1%.
Dr. Stowers explains here:
Gastric sleeve surgery is generally recommended for patients with a BMI of 40 or higher, or a BMI of 35 or higher with obesity-related health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or sleep apnea. The best way to determine if you’re a candidate is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Stowers, who will review your health history, goals, and treatment options.
Gastric sleeve surgery removes a portion of the stomach to reduce its size, while gastric bypass reroutes the digestive tract in addition to reducing stomach size. Gastric sleeve is a simpler procedure with a shorter operating time and is restrictive only, meaning it does not alter how your body absorbs nutrients. Dr. Stowers can help you determine which procedure is the better fit during your consultation.
After surgery, you’ll follow a gradual diet progression — starting with clear liquids, then full liquids, pureed foods, soft foods, and eventually solid meals over the course of several weeks. Long-term, meals will be smaller and higher in protein, with limited sugar and carbonated beverages. Dr. Stowers and his team provide detailed dietary guidance before and after surgery to support your recovery and results.
Coverage for gastric sleeve surgery varies by insurance plan. Some plans cover bariatric surgery when specific medical criteria are met, but the approval process can be lengthy — often requiring months of supervised diet documentation, psychological evaluations, and prior authorization before surgery is approved.
For patients who want to move forward on their own timeline, The Bariatric Experts™ offer an all-inclusive self-pay package starting at $10,950 — significantly below the national average of $19,000. With financing available as low as $288/month, many patients find self-pay to be a faster, more straightforward path to getting the care they need. The Bariatric Experts™ team can walk you through both options during your consultation to help you decide what makes the most sense for your situation.
Yes. Because your stomach will be significantly smaller, getting adequate nutrients through food alone can be challenging. Most patients are advised to take a daily bariatric multivitamin, along with calcium and vitamin B12 supplements. Dr. Stowers will provide specific recommendations based on your individual needs.
5 Simple Steps to Long Term Weight Loss
Consultation with Dr. Stowers
Meet with Our Bariatrics Coordinator
Complete the Pre-Surgical Requirements
Your Surgery Day!
Ongoing Follow Up
Start Your Transformation Today!
Request a consultation to get started!
1 American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Available: https://asmbs.org/resources/metabolic-and-bariatric-surgery/. Accessed April 28, 2026
Dr. Scott Stowers has either authored or reviewed the content on this site.
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