What To Expect During Your Recovery From Sleeve Gastrectomy

Being obese can increase your risk of developing serious chronic illnesses, including diabetes, metabolic disease, and heart disease. If you’ve tried to lose weight with no success, you may be a good candidate for sleeve gastrectomy surgery. 

Also known as a vertical sleeve gastrectomy, this bariatric surgery procedure removes up to 80% of your stomach to aid in significant weight loss and health improvement. As the most commonly performed type of weight loss surgery, it has a remarkable success rate near 90%. 

At Michael Sutker MD, in McKinney and Dallas, Texas, bariatric surgeon Dr. Sutker offers minimally invasive weight loss surgeries like sleeve gastrectomy to help you in your weight loss journey. Here, Dr. Sutker explains what to expect during a sleeve gastrectomy recovery. 

First two days after a sleeve gastrectomy 

Immediately after your procedure, you can expect to feel slightly nauseous as a result of the anesthesia used during the procedure. Additionally, you’ll feel some degree of discomfort as the anesthesia wears off, including some soreness at the incision sites.  

You’ll be encouraged to walk around and also drink liquids to avoid dehydration. Expect to go home within a day or two.

Recovering at home with your gastric sleeve

In the early days of at-home recovery, you may feel tired, nauseous, and sore. Pain should be mild and tolerable, occurring mostly at the incision site. You also may experience any combination of:

• Weakness
• Light-headedness
• Flatulence
• Loose stools
• Loss of appetite

These post-surgery symptoms should subside within a week or two. Rest and take it easy while your body recovers, following our post-operative instructions to the letter.   

You’ll be put on a liquid and protein diet for up to a week and given supplements to address any nutritional deficiencies. You’ll also receive specific exercise and bathing guidelines. 

Speeding your sleeve gastrectomy recovery

The best way to ensure a speedy recovery is to follow our instructions and move regularly. While strenuous activity and heavy lifting aren’t recommended, regular non-strenuous activity like walking will help you regain your energy. 

Be sure to schedule and attend follow-up appointments as recommended to make sure you’re recovering normally.

Weight loss results

In the first two weeks, you should expect to lose about a pound a day. On average, people lose up to 70% of their excess weight in their first year after surgery. Keeping the weight off, though, requires a life-long commitment to healthy eating and regular exercise.

Are you ready to explore bariatric surgery options? Call or click online today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Sutker to see if you’re a candidate for weight loss surgery.