What to Expect During Your Gastric Sleeve Surgery

No one looks forward to surgery, but they do look forward to the results. If you’re facing bariatric surgery, you’re on a steep learning curve since there are many options, each with benefits and drawbacks. 

The principle behind University Bariatrics is creating a single destination for all your surgically assisted weight loss options. It’s the focus of our practice, and our surgeon, Amir Mehran, MD, FACS, FASMBS, specializes in several bariatric procedures, including gastric sleeve surgery. 

Knowing what to expect from your gastric sleeve procedure helps you prepare and manage your expectations. You’ll have fewer surprises, and you can anticipate each stage of your recovery. You’ll identify progress and plateaus as you anticipate the new normals surrounding your weight loss journey. 

Sleeve gastrectomy

The sleeve describing the procedure is the new shape of your stomach since gastric sleeve surgery removes most of the left-hand side of your stomach to form a smaller narrow tube -- the sleeve -- reducing the amount of food you can eat at any one time. 

Gastric sleeve surgery uses minimally invasive techniques to reduce the impact of your procedure on healthy tissue. You’ll typically heal faster with a lower risk of complications. 

Sleeve gastrectomy preserves the small intestine. Food passes from your stomach into the intestine in the same way. 

What to expect from your gastric sleeve surgery

Performed under general anesthetic, you’ll be asleep for your procedure. Performed laparoscopically, your sleeve gastrectomy requires only small keyhole incisions for a camera (the laparoscope) and specially designed surgical tools. 

One of these tools is a laparoscopic stapler, with which Dr. Mehran divides the stomach, forming the gastric tube. Excess stomach tissue gets cut away and removed through an incision. Leak tests may be performed using dyes or an upper endoscopy. 

After surgery, you’ll likely spend a night in the hospital before returning home. You’ll start on a liquid diet for the first few weeks after surgery, progressing to purees, soft foods, and finally back to regular eating. Meals will be small, and you should eat them slowly. 

Learn to chew each bite well since your gastric sleeve may struggle with larger chunks of food. We’ll help you with meal planning through the early days since it’s a key to the success of your procedure. 

In the weeks and months after your surgery, you’ll have a series of blood tests to monitor how the gastric sleeve changes and how your body absorbs nutrients. You may need to take supplements if a deficiency develops. Calcium, iron, vitamin B12, and vitamin D are common nutrients you might need to supplement. 

Dr. Mehran is a leading expert on sleeve gastrectomy, so you’re in good hands with University Bariatrics. Call our nearest office in the Greater Los Angeles area, or book an appointment through our handy online tool. Get answers to your questions, or start the process toward achieving your optimal weight. Schedule your visit today.