How Long Does Gastric Sleeve Surgery Take?
Our network of bariatric surgeons are leading weight loss surgery experts serving the greater San Diego and Tijuana area. One of the most popular bariatric procedures we offers is gastric sleeve (sleeve gastrectomy), an effective weight loss surgery option.
We know that each patient's time is valuable, and many patients often ask how long procedures take to perform and when they will see results. We'd like to consider these matters of time right now.
About Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Gastric sleeve surgery is a form of surgical weight loss procedure. During the surgery, the patient's stomach size is reduced. This means that patients eat less, consume fewer calories, feel fuller sooner, and also experience reduced sensations of hunger.
How Gastric Sleeve Differs from Other Bariatric Procedures
The other two popular options for surgical weight loss today are gastric bypass surgery and gastric banding.
Gastric bypass surgery involves the creation of a smaller stomach pouch and rerouting of part of the intestine to reduce caloric absorption. It's more complicated in terms of overall surgery than a gastric sleeve simply given what's involved.
Gastric banding surgery involves the use of a silicone band to reduce the size of the stomach. While this seems more convenient than gastric sleeve surgery, patients will often need adjustments to the band following the initial surgery, which can be expensive and time consuming.
How long is the gastric sleeve surgery itself?
Gastric sleeve surgery will usually take around 90 minutes to 2 hours. The exact amount of time can vary from patient to patient, but that's the general range to be expected in most surgeries.
How long is the recovery from gastric sleeve surgery?
Overall recovery from gastric sleeve surgery will take several weeks. In terms of early recovery, patients will note the following:
- Two night hospital stay after surgery to monitor vitals
- Two night hotel stay near the practice to continue resting
- Two months on a specially considered liquid-to-solid diet
During the first two months, you will need to limit strenuous physical activities until instructed otherwise and slowly reintegrate solid foods into your diet.
How long will it take for me to see weight loss results?
The rate of weight loss will vary from patient to patient, but given the changes to your diet immediately following gastric sleeve, weight loss should be apparent within that two month timeframe. By the end of the first year after surgery, patients will lose a significant amount of excess weight. Maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly will help you keep the weight off in the years ahead.
We will provide ample post-operative instructions and advice for you so that you can get the most out of your bariatric surgery experience.
Schedule a Consultation for Gastric Sleeve Surgery
To learn more about gastric sleeve surgery and how it can help you achieve a healthier and more ideal BMI, contact our weight loss surgery center today. Our team will be more than happy to answer your questions and address your concerns so that you can make the best possible decisions regarding your overall health and wellness.