Gastric sleeve surgery is just the beginning of a lifelong journey towards better health. While a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy can significantly aid in your weight loss efforts, it’s important to remember that the real work starts afterward. Significant lifestyle changes and a commitment to long-term health are essential to achieving lasting success.
Recovery from gastric sleeve surgery can take a few weeks, provided there are no complications, but following your doctor’s instructions is crucial for the best recovery possible. Here’s what you can expect as you recover after gastric sleeve surgery.
How Long is Recovery from Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
The recovery process can vary, but after gastric sleeve surgery, most people need about 2 weeks off from work to focus on healing. During this time, you can start taking short walks, but you may still feel some discomfort due to the incision in your stomach. It’s important to take it easy and avoid strenuous activity early on.
In about 6 weeks, you should be able to resume most of your regular activities, but remember that your stomach will be smaller, and you’ll need to adjust portion sizes to avoid overloading your system.
What to Expect After Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Gastric sleeve surgery involves making your stomach smaller, which will result in feeling fuller more quickly. However, this also means that your body won’t be able to absorb the same amount of nutrients as it did before, so you’ll need to be mindful of your diet during recovery to make sure you’re getting the right nutrients.
Immediate Post-Op Recovery
Right after surgery, you’ll spend a day in the hospital where the medical team will monitor your progress and check for any complications such as leaks, which need to be detected and treated early.
Nausea and constipation are common side effects, and your medical team will help you manage these symptoms. After leaving the hospital, you’ll follow a strict liquid diet consisting of liquids and protein shakes, as your stomach heals and adjusts.
After 5-7 days, you’ll be able to begin adding healthy, fiber-rich foods into your diet as your body transitions toward a normal, balanced diet.
Full Recovery Timeline
It may take 4-6 weeks before you return to your normal routine, but you will continue to experience changes for the next 12 months. Over the course of the year, your body will continue to lose weight, and you’ll have regular check-ins with your doctor to ensure that you’re adjusting well to the changes and following the necessary lifestyle modifications.
Post-Op Gastric Sleeve Incisions
The incisions made during surgery can cause pain and discomfort for a couple of weeks. It’s essential to keep the incisions clean and dry to promote proper healing.
After about a week, you can stop dressing the wounds as they should be sufficiently healed. During this period, light exercise, such as walking, is recommended to increase blood circulation and support your weight loss efforts. However, avoid intense physical activity until your doctor clears you for more strenuous exercises to prevent strain on the incisions.
Stomach Swelling After Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Swelling is a normal part of recovery, and you can expect the stomach to be swollen for about 3 days post-surgery. This is the body’s natural way of healing. The swelling will gradually decrease, and within a week, most of the swelling should be gone. Minor swelling may persist for a few weeks, but it will continue to improve.
Can You Bend Over After Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
During the early recovery stages, you may experience discomfort when bending over or twisting your torso. This is due to the healing incisions, and it’s best to avoid these movements during the first week or two to prevent strain and allow for proper healing.
Signs of a Leak After Gastric Sleeve Surgery
While leaks after gastric sleeve surgery are uncommon, it’s important to know the signs and contact your doctor if you experience any of the following:
- Abdominal pain
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Increased breathing rate
- Drainage from the incision
- Nausea and vomiting
- Low blood pressure
- Pain in the left shoulder
- Weakness
- Little urination
If you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.
Recovery from Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Recovery from gastric sleeve surgery requires patience and careful attention to your health, but the results are worth the effort. Approximately 80-90% of gastric sleeve surgeries are successful, and most patients lose 60-70% of their excess weight over the course of a year.
It’s crucial to take care of your incision, stick to your post-op diet, and follow your doctor’s advice to ensure that you’re on the right path to achieving your health and weight loss goals.
If you have any questions about the recovery process after gastric sleeve surgery, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team at Nords Clinic. We’re happy to support you throughout your weight loss journey.
Ready to begin your journey to a healthier life? Contact us today to learn more about gastric sleeve surgery and how we can support you.