Weight loss surgery can be pretty tempting and, at times, prove to be extremely beneficial, especially if your weight causes problems in your day-to-day life. Gastric sleeve surgery is one such treatment that offers relief from all your troubles. Not only does it help to improve your health, but it also provides a long-term cure for weight loss and better health outcomes.
However, gastric sleeve surgery or any type of weight reduction surgery should only be considered in extreme cases, such as adults with a BMI of 40 or above. Plus, you have to be very careful with your diet before and after undergoing gastric sleeve surgery.
Nutritional preparations must be made at least three weeks before the surgery and then 4 weeks post-op. To learn more about this process, keep reading this blog.
What Is Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
Gastric sleeve surgery, commonly known as sleeve gastrectomy, is a type of bariatric surgery where a part of your stomach is removed, leaving behind a narrow sleeve-like stomach. This might seem extreme initially, but it is a procedure that helps those suffering from severe obesity.
The purpose of sleeve gastrectomy is to reduce the stomach size so you feel full faster. During the surgery, about 80% of your stomach is taken out. Thus, the leftover sleeve-like stomach is as narrow as a banana, making it easier for you to control hunger impulses.
Gastric Sleeve: Before And After Diet Plans
Not all changes take effect after the surgery. With sleeve gastrectomy, you need to be on your toes beforehand. Moreover, given how diet monitoring is a crucial aspect of the surgery, you have to start reigning back your eating habits at least three weeks ahead.
Here is a quick breakdown of how to manage your nutritional intake before and after gastric sleeve surgery.
1. Diet Before Gastric Sleeve Surgery What you eat before the surgery is really important, as that helps make the procedure easier and much safer, effectively lowering the risk of complications. It also helps you get started on diet control so you don’t have trouble afterward.
- 3 to 2 Weeks Before Start by eating fewer carbohydrates and observing the calories you eat. Incorporate more protein and healthy fats into your diet, like fish, nuts, eggs, etc. Make sure to drink a lot of water and eat slowly. It’s also critical to avoid spicy, greasy, and starchy foods.
- 1 Week Before When only a few days are left, start swapping solid foods with clear liquids. You should only have broth and water two to three days before the surgery. If you take medicines, talk to your doctor for more insight.
2. Diet After Gastric Sleeve Surgery Once the surgery is over, you can only have clear liquids. Drinking at least 48 to 64 ounces of fluids a day is important. Take small sips and avoid using straws, as they can cause gas bubbles.
- 1 Week After In the first week, stick to water, clear booths, sugar-free drink mixes, and de-caffeinated drinks.
- 2 Weeks After By the second week, you can slowly start taking thicker liquids. This includes applesauce, greek yogurt, protein shake, cream of wheat, fat-free milk products, and sugar-free ice cream.
- 3 Weeks After In the third week, you can re-introduce soft foods to your stomach, such as cooked vegetables, eggs, fish, beans, and ground meat.
- 4+ Weeks After Depending on how well you’re recovering, you may be able to expand your diet by the fourth week. But avoid fried foods, candy, nuts, dairy, and other such food items. Consult your nutritionist for more information on what you can and can’t eat.
Closing Word
Sleeve gastrectomy is not an easy procedure. There are a lot of things you need to take care of, especially your diet. To learn more about the before and after of gastric sleeve surgery in Irving, TX, contact Nova Bariatrics at (469) 639-0953. You can also visit us at 1081 Kinwest Pkwy STE 110, Irving, TX 75063, United States.