What To Eat The First Week After A Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Gaining weight can seem like an easy task but losing weight is something many people find themselves struggling with. For people who are obese, losing weight can be even harder. Even if they shed the pounds, it may be even harder to keep the weight off.
Gastric sleeve surgery has proven to be a solution that not only helps people lose weight but keep the weight off. Though the surgery is known to be successful, the diet following the surgery plays a key role in getting results, especially the first week after the procedure.
What is a Gastric Sleeve?
A Gastric Sleeve Surgery in Miami is categorized as a bariatric surgery which are surgeries designed to help overweight people successfully lose weight. The procedure involves the surgeon reducing the size of the stomach by 80 percent leaving patients with a stomach the size of a banana.
Because the stomach is smaller, patients will consume less food which contributes to weight loss. It also reduces the amount of ghrelin produced in the body which is known as the hunger hormone. Though patients may have a smaller stomach and appetite, the diet for the first week of surgery is not an easy one.
All-Clear Liquid Diet
For the first week following a gastric sleeve, patients have to follow an all-clear liquid diet. This means no foods, not even soft foods that are pureed or mashed. Patients must also avoid sugar and caffeine at all costs. Sugar can lead to dumping syndrome which is a combination of painful symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and more. Not only can it be painful for patients, it can also negatively impact the healing process.
Caffeine may be hard for some individuals to give up but having caffeine the first week after the surgery can lead to dehydration or acid reflux. Patients should also avoid carbonated drinks, even if it’s a sugar free seltzer. This is because carbonated drinks can lead to gas and bloating which is not helpful for the stomach’s healing process. This diet may sound limiting but patients do still have helpful options. Check out our Gastric Sleeve Before and After gallery.
Patients are encouraged to mainly drink water for the first week but they may be able to drink diluted juices or juices made with artificial sweeteners. Patients also have the option to have light broths or sugar-free gelatin. For those who can’t let coffee go, decaffeinated coffee and teas are okay during the first week.
Ultimately, it is best to follow the postoperative instructions given by a professional to truly know what to drink the first week after the surgery. To learn more about the postoperative diet of a gastric sleeve surgery, feel free to make an appointment with one of the knowledgeable surgeons at the Miami Plastic Surgery Center.
