Gastric Sleeve Surgery

The recovery time after surgery varies depending on the general health status of the person, the type of surgery and how much they follow the surgeon's recommendations. After the surgery, patients are kept under observation in the hospital for one night. If there is no problem, they are discharged. The healing process usually takes 15-20 days for the internal stitches to heal after surgery. But the full healing process takes up to a month. In the postoperative period, compliance with the doctor's recommendations is important and patients need to change their eating habits.

Weight loss usually starts in the first few weeks after surgery. Patients with sleeve gastrectomy normally lose 50% to 60% of their excess weight within 12-18 months. Patients lose more weight if they follow dietary restrictions and exercise programs. Each patient's results vary depending on their starting weight, weight-related health problems, age and other factors. 

Gastric sleeve surgery works in 2 ways. The first is oral restriction, as your stomach shrinks, you start to eat less food. The second is physiologically decreased appetite. Removal of a large part of the stomach causes chemical changes in the body that reduce appetite. Specific hormones control appetite and energy balance and fight against obesity. As the part of the stomach that runs these hormones is removed, the hormonal balance changes and appetite is significantly reduced. Therefore, since the stomach is much smaller after surgery, you will feel full more quickly and for longer.

Dietary changes after surgery depend on the recommendations of your nutritionist. In the first stage, protein and vitamin supplements, especially vitamin B12, are started.  As your stomach shrinks after gastric sleeve surgery, you start to consume smaller portions. We recommend you to consume liquid foods for the first few weeks after surgery. You should consume liquids such as water, soup and milk slowly. After the liquid period, you can start eating pureed foods. Pureed foods such as boiled vegetables, yogurt, soups can be preferred.

After the puree period, you can switch to soft foods with the approval of your doctor. Protein sources such as boiled chicken, eggs, low-fat cheese and boiled vegetables can be consumed at this stage. You should prefer healthy foods such as protein-rich foods, vegetables and whole grains. Avoid processed, high-fat or high-sugar foods. Avoiding sugary foods and refined carbohydrates after surgery will help with weight control and managing insulin levels.

Gastric sleeve surgery is a permanent procedure. It lasts for the rest of your life and cannot be reversed. However, gastric sleeve surgery is only a tool and the beginning of a process in which one should take care of oneself. To achieve a lasting result, it is important for the patient to regulate their post-operative diet, exercise and make healthy lifestyle choices.

Suitable candidates for gastric sleeve surgery are overweight or obese individuals, and the surgery should improve their health status or solve serious weight problems. For gastric sleeve surgery, you need to be morbidly obese, i.e. severely obese, with a body mass index above 40 kg/m². However, body mass index alone is not a criterion. Before performing gastric sleeve surgery, doctors also consider the person's health history, age, duration of obesity, dietary habits and other factors. Our doctors recommend gastric sleeve surgery if you have obesity-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, high cholesterol or sleep apnea.

Weight gain usually starts in the third year after surgery. Patients who do not change their habits may regain some or all of the weight they lost before. Although this situation varies from person to person, usually 5-10 kilograms are gained and weight gain stops. However, psychological factors are also important in this case. After sleeve gastrectomy, some patients may have difficulty coping psychologically with eating disorders or emotional eating habits. This may cause weight gain. Therefore, in order to prevent weight gain after gastric sleeve surgery, it is important to follow the recommendations of the doctor, maintain a balanced diet and exercise regularly.

How long patients stay in Turkey after gastric sleeve surgery usually varies depending on the type of surgery, the person's health condition and the recommendations of the surgeon. Surgeons in Turkey recommend that you stay in the country for at least 3 weeks after the procedure. During this time, your doctor will follow your recovery process. You can return after your appropriate treatment is finished.