Sleeve gastrectomy is a popular weight loss surgery that involves reducing the stomach size, helping the person lower his food intake. And since the person will be consuming less food, he will have an easier time maintaining his weight after the surgery. About 80% of the stomach is usually removed during the procedure, and the entire process is completed in about an hour or two. Below, we look at a few things you should know about the surgery.
Qualification
You will need to have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more in order to be considered an ideal candidate for the sleeve gastrectomy. People with a BMI between 30 and 40 may also be recommended this procedure if they have health issues like high BP, diabetes, sleep apnea etc. and it is determined that weight loss can provide some relief from these problems.
Before Surgery
Prior to the surgery, the doctor will conduct a complete medical assessment including x-ray, ECG and so on. You will be put on a strict dietary regimen for at least 2 weeks before the surgery, and will mostly be asked to avoid sugary foods while increasing the consumption of veggies and proteins. If you can lose some weight during this period, then you will have better results with the surgery. You will also be required to abstain from any food for at least 12 hours before the procedure.
Weight Loss
In about 3 months from the surgery, you will lose about one third of the excess weight. At 6 months, you will have lost about half the excess weight. And at the end of the year, you will have only about 30% of the excess weight you had recorded before the surgery.
Other Health Benefits
Sleeve gastrectomy also offers many other health benefits. Patients experience an improvement in diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol conditions within about 6 to 12 months from completing the surgery. In fact, many also report having become completely free from such health issues.
Recovery
You will be staying at the hospital for about 2 to 3 days and will have to stay off from your work for about 3 weeks. By the sixth week, you should have recovered completely from the procedure and will be able to continue with your normal activities. One thing to note is that you may experience some side effects like digestive issues, nausea etc. during the recovery period. But these will go away once you recover fully.
After Surgery
After recovery, you will have an easier time maintaining your weight since you will be eating less. You will be advised to take a nutritious diet and limit the consumption of junk food and other processed items.
If you wish to know more about how sleeve gastrectomy can help you with reducing and managing your weight, Bay Bariatrics is the best place to inquire and clear all your doubts.