Gastric sleeve surgery is one of the most commonly used methods that provide the most effective results for the treatment of diseases caused by obesity and overweight. The main purpose of obesity surgery procedures is to enable patients to feel full in a shorter time by eating less and therefore lose weight. Apart from gastric sleeve surgery, gastric bypass and gastric banding can also be listed among other popular obesity surgery procedures.
What is Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
Within the scope of gastric sleeve surgery, also known as stomach reduction surgery or sleeve gastrectomy, a large part of the patient’s stomach is removed, leaving behind a tube-shaped stomach that is reduced in volume.
The stomach, which maintains its normal functions but is reduced in volume, is filled with much less food. In this way, the amount of food the patient needs to consume to feel full is reduced. Since the part of the stomach that provides the appetite hormone is removed within the scope of the surgery, the patient begins to not feel hungry frequently. In this way, a quick and easy weight loss process begins.
Gastric sleeve surgery is performed laparoscopically under general anesthesia. Gastric sleeve surgery is completed in an average of 45 minutes to 1 hour. Including the preparation process before the surgery, the total time may reach 2 hours. After surgery, patients are usually discharged within 3 days.
How Long Does It Take to Heal After Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
Before the patients are discharged after sleeve gastrectomy surgery, the doctor gives detailed information about possible complications and tells the patients about the issues they need to pay attention to. In this process, following the doctor’s instructions on post-operative nutrition, what activities can be done and other issues will shorten the recovery process of patients.
Although patients can usually return to working life within 2 weeks after sleeve gastrectomy surgery, it is necessary to avoid jobs that require intense physical activity in the first months. Therefore, the time it takes for the patient to return to work will vary depending on the nature of his job. Under normal circumstances, full recovery is achieved after the first few months. After this period, patients should pay attention to their diet and follow the doctor’s recommendations regarding daily physical activities.
How Many Weight Loss After Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
How Long Does the Risk of Leak Last After Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
Gastric sleeve surgery, like all surgical procedures, involves some risks. The risk of leakage is considered the most serious complication that can be encountered after sleeve gastrectomy surgery. Although it is around 1% to 2%, the first factors that reduce the risk of leakage are the experience of the doctor performing the surgery and the suitability of the patient for the surgery.
Leakage is a situation where stomach contents or stomach acid leak into the abdomen from the stapled stomach during sleeve gastrectomy surgery. If early precautions are not taken against leakage that may cause infection, you may face the risk of sepsis.
The most critical period after sleeve gastrectomy surgery is the first week. This is because leakage usually occurs between the 5th and 8th day after surgery. After the 10th day, the risk of leakage decreases.
Nutrition After Gastric Sleeve Surgery
For the first 2 days after gastric sleeve surgery, patients are fed with intravenous serum, and after the 3rd day, clear liquids are started. The next step is to consume thick but filtered liquids. Gradually, puree and solid foods are introduced, and at the end of the 4th week, patients begin to consume solid food.
After sleeve gastrectomy surgery, patients’ eating habits should change and their meal patterns should not be disrupted. The foods consumed and their amounts change, and more frequent and smaller portions are consumed. Additionally, foods should be chewed better and eaten slowly.
Since the stomach volume decreases after sleeve gastrectomy surgery, care should be taken to eat small amounts and frequently. Eating regularly also prevents feeling sluggish during the day. Especially in the first year, patients may need to use multivitamins to avoid fatigue and vitamin and mineral deficiencies due to decreased portions consumed. If the portions taken after 1 year meet daily needs, a patient-specific decision is made to continue using vitamins after 1 year.
