Gastric Sleeve FAQ
The gastric sleeve is a common weight loss treatment. Read the following gastric sleeve FAQs to find out more.
How much weight will I lose?
Will I lose weight quickly?
How long will I have to stay in hospital after surgery?
How will my diet change after surgery?
You will not be able to eat the same volume of food as you do now. By the end of the first year you should be able to eat a child sized portion of food. This will gradually increase as your weight stabilizes and your tolerance increases.
What if I am still very hungry after surgery?
What are the potential complications of surgery?
General Complications:
- Allergic Reactions: From minor reactions such as rash to sudden overwhelming reactions
- Anaesthetic Complications: Anaesthesia used to put you to sleep for the operation can be associated with variety of complications. The anaesthetist will discuss anaesthetic risks with you
- Bleeding: From minor to massive bleeding that can lead to the need for blood transfusion and/or emergency surgery
- Blood Clots: Also called deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolus (PE) that can sometimes cause stroke, heart attack, loss of limb and death
- Infection: Including wound infections, bladder infections, pneumonia and deep abdominal infections
Specific Complications:
- Leak: The stapled stomach can leak acid, bacteria and digestive enzymes causing a severe infection and abscess. This can require endoscopy with possible insertion of synthetic tube (stent) within the new stomach for sometime to aid healing, repeated surgery and intensive care admission
- Narrowing (stricture): narrowing of the sleeve may require endoscopic dilatation
- Bowel obstruction: Any operation in the abdomen can leave behind scar tissue that can put the patient at risk for later bowel blockage
- Laparoscopic surgery risks: Laparoscopic surgery uses punctures to enter the abdomen and can lead to injury and bleeding
- Hernia: Cuts in the abdominal wall can lead to hernias after surgery
- Hair loss: Many patients develop hair loss for a short period after surgery. This usually responds to increased levels of vitamins
- Complications of pregnancy: Rapid weight loss can put babies of gastric sleeve mothers at risk. No pregnancy should occur for the first 12-18 months after surgery
- Ulcers: Patients undergoing gastric sleeve may develop ulcers at the bottom of the stomach. Ulcers may require medical or surgical treatment and have complications of chronic pain, bleeding and perforation.