Life After Surgery

Depending on the course of recovery after sleeve gastrectomy procedure, patients are mostly discharged on the 4^th day after the surgery. Patients coming from other cities or abroad for the operation need to stay at a location where they can reach the hospital within 2-3 hours if required, at least for 1 week, before they return to their place of residence.

After you are discharged, drink at least 1,5 litres (8 glasses) of water every day. Take liquid nutrients in the first 2 weeks as instructed by your dietitian. Especially in the first weeks, your protein intake will be insufficient. For this reason, do not forget to take the protein powder supplement to be added in the fluids. Take the fluid nutrients slowly in small sips. You may experience swallowing difficulties in the first weeks. This is an expected symptom. It is temporary so do not worry. Grind the medications you have to take and swallow them by diluting them in water. The surgical incisions on the abdominal wall are stitched with absorbable buried sutures. There will be no need to remove the sutures.

It is possible to take a bath, take light walks and drive, one week after the operation. After two weeks, when you start to eat soft foods, try to eat at meal times even if you do not feel hungry. Chew, chew and chew insistently before you swallow. Take very small bites in your mouth each time. Leave the table as soon as you feel full.

After two weeks, it is possible to take longer walks and to swim. There is no harm in having sexual intercourse. Heavy physical exercises and heavy lifting must be avoided for a month. Patients who are employed, can go back to work within 20-30 days, depending on the heaviness of their work.

If the patient will travel by airplane within a month after the surgery, anti-embolism stockings should be worn throughout the flight. Patients should not smoke. It must be kept in mind that smoking will disrupt the healing of the wound, increase infection risk, and it may cause ulcers and bleeding. Alcohol should not be used. In case of alcohol use, the patient should be aware that that its effect will be quicker and stronger than it was before the surgery. It must be kept in mind that alcohol use also means plenty of calorie intake. Women who would like to have children after the surgery are advised to be protected for one year and get pregnant after dietician follow-up.