Gastric Sleeve: Before and After the Procedure

What you need to know before having a gastric sleeve operation.

Before having a gastric sleeve operation, you will be required to meet with your doctor and complete several tests. This is not anything unusual for individuals who are interested in having surgery; it simply ensures that they are healthy enough to undergo the procedure.
The following tests may be conducted before going through this weight loss option:

Blood Work

Blood work is conducted to ensure your blood is healthy enough for surgery. It will also help the doctor determine if you have any medical conditions that might complicate things during or after an operation.

Upper Endoscopy

Upper endoscopy uses a tube with a tiny camera on the end in order to take images of your upper digestive tract. The goal is to determine the amount of excess weight you have, where it is located in your stomach, and how healthy everything looks.

Chest X-Ray

An x-ray will also give your doctor a better idea of the shape your chest is in so that they can plan for surgery accordingly. If there are any problems with bones or organs, they will be able to figure out the best way to perform surgery.

If you are battling obesity or an overweight condition as a result of pregnancy, hormonal changes, or inheritance, you may be a candidate for this weight loss procedure.

You can begin by looking up for bariatric sleeve before and after pictures on the internet to get an idea of how you might look like after losing excess weight. It will also be helpful to look for other forms of bariatric surgery such as gastric bypass surgery so you can have a better-informed decision later on.

During your initial appointment, a dedicated surgeon will show you before and after images of previous gastric sleeve surgery patients. Try to review as many as you can before making a decision.

A dedicated bariatric surgeon will clearly explain the benefits and drawbacks of the operation. They may also present to you excess skin gastric sleeve before and after skin pictures at first.

You need to carefully examine these photographs in order to build clear expectations and make an informed decision about whether or not to proceed.

What you need to know and do after having your gastric sleeve operation.

Scarring after Surgery

The appearance of your gastric sleeve scars is determined by how the surgery is performed. There are three ways:

Open surgery

Leaves a large scar across your abdomen and is usually reserved for surgical emergencies.

Laparoscopic surgery with a single incision

Leaves a small scar hidden in your belly button. This is becoming a more popular option.

Laparoscopic surgery with multiple ports

Leaves 4 to 5 tiny scars across the belly is still fairly prevalent.

Lifestyle Changes Necessary before and after a Gastric Sleeve Surgery

It is essential to make lifestyle adjustments before and after gastric sleeve surgery if you want to lose weight and keep it off. Begin living as if you’ve had the procedure in advance for at least three months. These changes aren’t going to be easy, which is why you should start early enough. Be kind to yourself and practice self-control.

The adjustments will get simpler as you gradually change your lifestyle throughout the months you will spend preparing for your surgery.
The following tips will assist you in handling the changes that may occur before and after the operation:

Start to eat for health rather than taste or pleasure

Your body will be unable to process as much food as it once did due to your smaller stomach after surgery. This is excellent for weight loss, but it is detrimental to acquiring the nutrition your body requires to function correctly.

If you eat a lot of junk food and don’t obtain enough nutrients after surgery, you could end up with one of the numerous nasty side effects of malnutrition.

Consume more proteins

Proteins are vital for weight loss since they make you feel fuller faster and for longer. They will also aid in the preservation of muscle mass throughout your rapid weight reduction after surgery.

Take multivitamins

After gastric surgery, you are advised to take supplements because you won’t be able to absorb nutrients as well, owing to changes in your digestive system and eating less food. Start incorporating a multivitamin into your daily routine right away. Ask your doctor for recommendations on multivitamins.

Eat slowly while chewing each bite, and keep portion amounts in check

It takes 20 to 30 minutes for the sensation of satiety to reach your brain. When you eat slowly and properly allows you to remain in touch with your body, preventing you from overeating and stretching your new stomach. It will help you lose weight if you practice this while preparing for your gastric sleeve surgery.

Avoid drinking anything with your meals

You should wait for at least an hour after meals before taking any drink following surgery. Food may be flushed through your smaller post-operation stomach, making you feel hungry sooner and triggering weight regain.

Furthermore, because your stomach will be smaller after the procedure, you will have less space for food and fluids. If you do not drink and eat separately, you may get malnourished or dehydrated. This phase is critical, especially in the early stages of recovery when your body is still recuperating.

Drink more water and avoid sugary drinks

As long as you have no fluid restriction, start drinking at least 2 litres of water each day. Drinking plenty of water throughout the months leading up to weight loss surgery benefits patients in several ways.

Such include keeping you hydrated, giving you an early sense of fullness, and cleaning out your kidneys, to mention a few. Cleansing your kidneys lessens the risk of kidney stones, which can occur as a result of rapid weight loss after surgery.

Quit drinking alcohol

Alcohol may have a very dramatic effect on your body after surgery due to the alterations in your digestive system. You will find it a lot simpler to get drunk, which means you’ll be more prone to give in to food cravings.
Following surgery, alcohol can result in your blood sugar going wild, leading to weight gain and putting you at risk for a variety of health problems.

Be careful with your coffee intake

Coffee is good in little amounts, but you should avoid the calories that come from cream and sugar. A high-caffeine tea with a small amount of honey may be a suitable choice to aid the alternative.

Attend support group meetings

It is impossible to overestimate the value of hearing about other patients’ real-life experiences. Other people will provide you with first-hand information that your surgical team may not be able to deliver directly, as well as the opportunity to form relationships that may help you succeed after surgery. Your surgeon can tell you where to look for a bariatric group in your area.

Exercise More

Begin slowly, do something you enjoy, and get moving. You should be able to endure moving for up to 20 to 30 minutes every day. This will help you lose weight before surgery, lower the chance of complications during surgery, and establish a habit that will result in long-term weight loss.

Quit smoking

Smoking raises blood clots risk during surgery for up to 6 weeks after you’ve quit. Furthermore, research shows that tobacco users are twice as likely as nonsmokers to fail to complete pre-operative weight loss regimens.
Consider enrolling in a cigarette cessation program or beginning a nicotine replacement program, which may include gum or patches.

Brain Changes after a Gastric Sleeve Surgery

In addition to the numerous physical advantages of gastric sleeve surgery, one vital organ is sometimes overlooked, which is the brain. The organ uses 20% of your energy and has an effect on your cognition, moods, and executive function. The way it works will be affected by the surgery.

Hormone Regulation

The delicate balance between hormones and brain function can be greatly improved by gastric sleeve surgery. Hormones are important for controlling hunger and a range of other health issues. Whenever your stomach is empty, a hormone called ghrelin is released into the bloodstream. It makes your brain produce hunger signals.

The quantity of ghrelin released reduces after you eat, then gradually climbs until your next meal. Because your stomach will be smaller following gastric sleeve operation, the amount of ghrelin it produces may also decrease.
You will therefore feel lesser hungry than you did before the procedure because you will have less of the hormone in your system.
Excess hormones, including estrogen, are also a result of obesity. Estrogen levels may drop after gastric sleeve surgery and weight loss.
Males and females equally may benefit from more balanced testosterone to estrogen ratio, which may boost mood, energy, and sexual desire.

Cognition

While there are many theories as to why obesity causes cognitive problems, one prevalent theory argues that it has something to do with blood flow in the brain. Excess weight is linked to cerebrovascular disease, a condition in which blood cannot flow freely throughout the brain. A range of problems, including stroke and vascular dementia, can be caused by a disruption in blood flow.

Fortunately, research suggests that gastric sleeve surgery can help with brain health and cognition. Scores assessing cognitive function showed improvement up to three years after surgery in a recent study of patients. Short-term memory, executive functioning, and attention span were among the study variables.

Food Addiction

Many people seeking gastric sleeve surgery are food addicts. Clients understandably wonder whether the treatment would affect their capacity to control their interactions with food after years of living with this condition. The short answer is yes; it can be extremely beneficial.

The long answer is that, while a gastric sleeve is a necessary tool, each patient must adhere to significant lifestyle modifications in order for the sleeve to work well.

Food addiction may lead to obesity if it is not addressed. It could also result in weight regain if not managed before surgery.

Relationships Changes after Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Relationships may improve following gastric sleeve surgery. People will begin to regard you differently within a few months of undergoing the procedure since it results in rapid and profound weight loss. The majority of patients have reported the following impressive experiences:

• Respected more than before
• Improved more romantic interest from friends
• Reduced discrimination against obesity
• As a result of being able to physically keep up with youngsters and having more physically active friends, you’ll have a deeper relationship.
• Impressive compliments
• Enhanced self-esteem
• Improvements in sexual life quality

You may find yourself scrutinizing your friends following your therapy sessions. The company you hang out with should help you grow as a person and achieve your health goals.

Gastric Sleeve Maintenance

Unlike the Lap-Band, gastric sleeve surgery does not require regular band fills. It does, however, require maintenance. A gastric sleeve does not require any tune-ups. It’s done when it’s done.
To achieve long-term weight loss, you must, however, ensure that you are doing the necessary things such as the following:

Diet Maintenance

It is critical that you adhere to the new dietary recommendations for the rest of your life. It’s simple to revert to old behaviours. After gastric sleeve surgery, you can gain weight if you don’t watch out. If you enjoy cooking and love tasty cuisine, you’ll need new recipes following surgery.
Getting your family and friends to support you after weight reduction surgery is an integral part of your success. If you make delicious meals, it will be much easier to convince your family to eat healthily.

Appropriate Exercises

Exercise is essential both before and after gastric sleeve surgery. When it comes to long-term success after the procedure, exercise is almost as crucial as food. Clients who exercise on a regular basis shed more weight over time.

You need to block out time to exercise to help you stay on track. You should aim at the following three things during your exercise routine:

Flexibility

A decent stretching routine will help you to be more flexible. Yoga is perfect since it involves appropriate breathing and builds strength using your own body weight.

Endurance

Endurance activities include stationary cycling, walking, and swimming.

Strength

Weights, exercise balls, and yoga are all excellent ways to build strength.

Mood Maintenance

It’s impossible to have a happy mindset 100% of the time. Everyone has bad days now and then. Food cravings can be triggered by depression in persons who have food addictions. This is because food provides a source of comfort when you’re depressed.

Finding instant comfort takes precedence over staying healthy. A depressed or angry mood is frequently the beginning of a losing struggle with food.
Make sure you’re paying attention to your mood and actively managing it by engaging in healthy activities that will help you feel better.

While unpleasant days will happen, don’t allow them to turn into bad weeks or months. It’s not okay if you’re having a difficult day and turn to food for solace.
Allowing overeating to become a vicious cycle that results in a stretched tummy and weight gain is not a good idea.

Complications after Surgery

You should be aware of any potential complications during and after your operation. A staple line leak is the most alarming complication of gastric sleeve surgery. Leaks in the staple line can happen during or after surgery.

They are usually noticed and corrected before the procedure is completed – no big issue. However, if they go undiscovered, you will begin to feel ill soon afterwards.

The first month after surgery is when staple line leaks are most common. They can be brought on by eating the wrong foods or by the stomach tissues failing to recover. This causes the staples to separate from the de-vascularized thin tissue, resulting in a leak.

A staple line leak causes a severe illness as your stomach juices move to your abdomen. Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia), chest pain, fever, And abdominal pain are all signs and symptoms. The majority of staple line leaks occur in the first 14 days of surgery. If you experience any of these symptoms, see your doctor right away.

Healthy Benefits After Weight Loss Surgery

Besides losing weight, there are many health benefits of gastric sleeve surgery or any weight loss surgery in particular.
Let us look at each one of them:

A Long-term Remission of Type 2 Diabetes

According to a recent study, gastric sleeve surgery results in long-term remission of type 2 diabetes. This study’s findings suggest that the operation is highly beneficial for obese individuals with type 2 diabetes, with nearly all patients remaining insulin-free for at least three years following the procedure.

Cardiovascular Health Improvement

The risk of coronary and peripheral heart disease significantly reduces after a weight loss surgery. Furthermore, a recent study found that weight loss after the procedure can reduce the risk of death from hypertension, stroke, and myocardial infarction.
Following a gastric sleeve surgery, cholesterol levels and blood pressure can resume normal or near-normal levels, lowering these risks and improving quality of life.

Depression Relief

Because of social stigma and poor body image, many obese people are depressed. Even younger people who are overweight find it difficult to engage in activities that they usually like, leading to depression and social isolation.
These patients’ emotional health may improve if they lose weight. Studies show that people who undergo gastric surgery experience a 32.7% percent reduction in depression at the time of surgery and a 16.5% reduction six to twelve months later.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Elimination

People with sleep apnea can typically quit using a CPAP machine at night if they achieve and maintain a healthy weight range. One year following this surgery, about 80 to 85% of patients experience sleep apnea remission.

Relief of Joint Pain

Excess weight places a lot of strain on your weight-bearing joints, which can lead to persistent pain and joint deterioration. Gastric surgery results in a massive and long-term weight loss, which decreases joint tension and often allows patients to quit using pain medications and experience considerably more mobility.

Improved Fertility

Weight loss surgery can also help women become more fertile during their childbearing life. According to scientific studies, the procedure can reduce the chances of miscarriages and normalize menstrual cycles in women who do not ovulate.

Conclusion

The road to a successful gastric sleeve surgery is long. It takes about two years on average to reach your goal weight. To keep the weight off, you must change a lifetime of unhealthy habits. It isn’t a simple solution. It needs commitment, perseverance, and consistent effort on a daily basis (forever). Continue to learn, reinforce positive behaviours, and celebrate minor accomplishments.

With obesity and its underlying health problems on the rise, gastric surgery is unquestionably a potent tool for giving long-term comfort to overweight people. While making this decision, it is crucial to find a hospital that has substantial expertise doing these procedures.

FAQ

​​What happens after I go through a gastric sleeve procedure?

You will not be able to consume as much food as you are used to. Besides, the procedure eliminates the section of your stomach that produces a hormone that elevates your appetite. Clients seeking quick weight loss in a simple operation that requires less maintenance without long-term complication rates of a Lap-Band have found the procedure to be an excellent option.

What happens during an actual gastric sleeve operation?

It takes around an hour to perform the surgery. Your surgeon makes a few small cuts in your stomach and inserts a laparoscope, a small camera that delivers images to a monitor. They will then insert further medical equipment through the additional cuts and extract around 3/4 of your stomach. Eventually, the rest of your stomach will be reattached to form a tube or the “sleeve.” You might be hospitalized for two or three days. The surgery is permanent. People with a BMI of at least 40 are often the best candidates for gastric sleeve surgery. This implies you are at least 100 pounds above your desired weight.

How much weight will I lose after having a gastric sleeve?

Clients who have a gastric sleeve lose roughly 60% of their excess weight on average. Note that excess weight is not equivalent to the total weight. If you weigh 300 pounds before surgery, you will not weigh 120 pounds after that. Additionally, you can lose more or less than 60% of your body weight. Many people have successfully incorporated exercise (including marathons) into their regular life and have far exceeded the 60% figure.

What happens if I go back to my previous eating habits?

Some persons who revert to bad eating habits often lose less than 60% of their excess body weight. That said, implementing the necessary changes to keep the weight off is the key to success.

What happens to my skin after going through a gastric sleeve procedure?

A gastric sleeve operation can lead to a massive weight and get rid of obesity. However, if you undergo this procedure at an age when you are losing skin elasticity, you may find that you have excess skin in some body parts after a dramatic weight loss. Skin removal surgery can be used to correct the condition.

What happens to my stomach after a gastric sleeve operation?

People with a protracted history of obesity often have an enlarged and stretched stomach. This can be corrected by reducing the size of the organ using this surgery. The final outcome is smaller than before, but it’s still bigger than most people’s digestive organs (which measure about one litre in volume).

What happens after a gastric sleeve operation if I have diabetes?

Clients with type II diabetes may find that their blood sugar levels gradually return to normal, but it’s unclear why this is the case.

How long does a gastric sleeve take to work?

On average, patients lose roughly 80% of their excess body weight within the first year (or six months), with some losing weight more quickly than others.

What happens after a gastric sleeve if I don’t experience significant weight loss?

Clients who do not lose sufficient body weight during that time may require an adjustment to their diet or further surgery until they are able to reach their goal. While this is rare, it may be the case that you require further surgery.