Choosing to partake in a weight loss surgery such as gastric sleeve surgery is a big decision. You will want to weigh your options carefully after discussing the information with your physician. When making the decision to have gastric sleeve some of the biggest factors are how long the recovery time will be and what the expected results will be.
Expected Recovery Time for VSG
As with most surgeries, the recovery time is subjective and will depend on the individual, the surgery factors and the follow up after surgery. Most patients can expect to stay in the hospital for a few days after the surgery is over. They should be prepared for moderate pain, much like pain, you would feel if you worked out your abdomen after not having done so in some time. This discomfort can be put at ease fairly well with the aid of pain medications, either over-the-counter or through prescription.
One of the major components of a full recovery is the way that you are able to eat food. For the first week after the surgery, you will likely be put on a liquid only diet. This is because the stomach has been stapled and the staples are the only thing that holds the newly formed sleeve together. They must heal over before they can be strong enough to withstand the pressure of food. You will then be put on pureed and soft foods for another week or so and then gradually moved up to small portions of well cut up food. It is vital that you learn to fully chew the food and that you drink plenty of water when eating. You will soon find the full mark on your new stomach size and will need to adhere to that going forward.
Learning how to eat properly and understanding proper nutrition is essential to the recovery process. You will also want to work with the physician to find a good fitness guideline in order to get the right exercise for your situation.
Gastric Sleeve Results
The results of any weight loss surgery will differ from one person to the next and often depend upon the individual’s ability to make lifestyle changes. Many patients will see a weight loss of between 30% and 50% of their excess weight within the first year of the surgery. During the second year of the surgery many patients will find a weight loss of between 60% and 70% of their excess weight. The third year after surgery often brings an excess weight loss of approximately 70%. These results are the average and do not apply to all patients taking part in gastric sleeve surgery.
Gastric Sleeve Tips on Success
Patients that have the most success are those that adhere to a nutritious diet, make portion control a priority and that have an exercise plan that works well for them. Gastric sleeve surgery is not an instant fix for obesity. It is a tool and stepping stone for formulating a new lifestyle that will provide is the foundation for lifelong weight control and overall good health.
Statistics Associated With Gastric Sleeve Surgery
One recent study showed that patients who had gastric sleeve surgery lost nearly 57.4% of their excess body mass index in five years after surgery. Many consider gastric sleeve the first step of a two-step surgical process for morbidly obese patients. The second portion is either duodenal switch surgery or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery.
Ultimately, many studies have shown how the surgery has a lasting positive impact on patients. For example, the Journal of Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases published a study that found that those that had laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy surgery had a higher rate of long-term effects of improvement or resolution with their Type II Diabetes.
Another study by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists showed that patients lost an average of 61.5% of their BMI just one year following surgery. After five years, the average amount of excess BMI lost by patients was 57.4% The study showed that most of the weight is initially lost in the first year following surgery, however weight loss does continue for several years following gastric sleeve surgery.
Ultimately as data continues to surface about the successful results of gastric sleeve surgery, surgeons will be able to display the efficacy of this bariatric operation and the results to potential patients.
Benefits of the Gastric Sleeve Procedure
One of the biggest benefits of this surgical procedure is that it doesn’t require any adjusting of bands or any revisional surgeries. The stomach is decreased in size and there is nothing left to do or to change in the further. The process also is less expensive and has fewer complications than other weight loss surgeries.