The results of gastric sleeve surgery are astonishing and highly successful. Your new weight loss has many benefits including overcoming or improving many health problems that had plagued your life with obesity. Physical limitations, mobility, and comfort may be alleviated considerably.

Your new body will transform with gastric sleeve results that impact both physical appearance and physiological wellbeing. Gastric sleeve patients are often given more attention from friends and family, and a new-found confidence and energy spring into action.

Find out if you pre-qualify for gastric sleeve here.

How Gastric Sleeve Results Works

Gastric Sleeve Surgery Results - Mexico Bariatric Centerq

Gastric sleeve results vary from patient to patient, but nearly all of them have similar outcomes – there is a transformation of the body, both physically and mentally. Gastric sleeve surgery involves surgically removing 80-85% of the stomach.

Known in the medical field as Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, or VSG, the procedure has a major impact on hunger as it permanently cuts out the greater curvature of the stomach which holds a majority of the hunger hormone, Ghrelin.

The sleeve-shaped stomach is one-sixth of its original size, creating restriction which results in feeling more full from eating significantly less food, less often. The results of gastric sleeve surgery are dependent on dedication and commitment to lifestyle changes and following the post-operative guidelines through diet, nutrition, and vitamins.

Here we will dissect real-life gastric sleeve outcomes and results, along with what you can expect day-to-day with life after gastric sleeve.

Gastric Sleeve Surgery Weight Loss Results VSG

Gastric Sleeve Weight Loss Results

For gastric sleeve patients, weight loss results come extremely fast and patients can usually reach their Goal Weight (GW) in the first two years. It can be as long as a few days before patients can see results from gastric sleeve surgery.

Gastric Sleeve Results Weight Loss Before and After Photo Destiny

  • 6-month post-op results: 45% excess weight loss
  • 1-year post-op results: 65% excess weight loss
  • 3-years post-op results: 55% excess weight loss
  • 5-years post-op results: 53% excess weight loss

Excess weight is defined as the amount of weight you have over the normal BMI (body mass index) range.

If you want to see how much weight you can expect to lose, check out our gastric sleeve weight loss timeline and chart.

Calculate how much weight you can lose with gastric sleeve surgery here!

Post-Op Variables Impacting Weight Loss Results

Keep in mind the different variables that affect patients after gastric sleeve surgery. In the first year, patients usually lose weight no matter what. In year 2 thru 5 post-operation, adapting to a healthy lifestyle is critical because cravings slowly return and the body adjusts to the sleeve stomach.

After year 5 and on, patients need to surround their environment with a healthy diet, positive nutrition, and physical activity. Every day needs to be a conscious decision to continue a healthy lifestyle. Patients must stay motivated and determined to stay healthy.

Gastric Sleeve Results at Mexico Bariatric Center

Expected Weight Loss Chart After Gastric Sleeve SurgeryMexico Bariatric Center has done a study of their patients in 2015. The MBC research survey comprised of more than 100 former patients undergoing gastric sleeve surgery in Mexico. Our findings have been charted below:

This survey was collected originally in March 2015, covering all of our bariatric surgeons and their patient’s results. Please visit our page on how much weight you can expect to lose after gastric sleeve surgery for up to date statistics.

Weight loss results will vary and may not be typical; please review our disclaimer.

AVERAGE (lbs.)MEDIAN (lbs.)
1 MONTH62.823.5
3 MONTHS70.243
6 MONTHS8570
1 YEAR110.194
1.5 YEARS10898.5

Health Benefits as a Result of Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Laura C Before and After Gastric Sleeve in MexicoObesity is one of the most deadly and costly health problems in the United States. Gastric sleeve surgery is more effective than both diet and exercise while being one of the safest weight loss procedures available today (more than gastric bypass, lap band, and duodenal switch).

Gastric sleeve results include a variety of health benefits depending on the patient’s health.

List of Health Benefits

  • Complete remission or improvement in Type 2 Diabetes
  • Improved cardiovascular health
  • A significant decrease in high blood pressure
  • Relief of self-confidence and depression
  • Eliminate or improve obstructive sleep apnea
  • Relieving joint pain
  • Improve fertility and eliminate PCOS (Polycystic ovarian syndrome)

Gastric Sleeve Health Benefits Results Listed

Gastric Sleeve Problems (Risks and Complications)

Although the gastric sleeve is one of the safest procedures for its level of effectiveness, there are some potential problems that may arise. After all, it is a surgical procedure. The risk of death for gastric sleeve surgery is 0.08% within 30 days following surgery.1 This is dependent on the location of surgery and surgeon experience.

In order to reduce the risks involved, it’s important to follow your doctor, surgeon, and nutritionist recommendations.

It’s important to remember that gastric sleeve surgery is a very serious surgical procedure.

There are some risks and complications that may occur after gastric sleeve surgery. These are dependent on the patient’s adjustment to their new lifestyle and the surgeon’s expertise.

Potential Complications

  • Hemorrhage or Bleeding
  • Staple line leak
  • Abscess
  • Stomach Stricture
  • GERD or Acid Reflux
  • Nutrient Deficiency (requires vitamins)
  • Nausea or Vomiting
  • Hair Loss (in the first year)
  • Constipation
  • Blood Clots
  • Dumping Syndrome
  • Sleeve stretch
  • Infection

Gastric Sleeve Scars

Gastric sleeve surgery is the most commonly available weight loss procedure. Surgeons’ experience continues to grow because of the number of patients seeking the Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG). The surgeon’s expertise and the patient’s ability to follow the pre-op diet determines the number of incisions needed to complete the surgery.

In most cases, a highly-qualified surgeon and a patient who follows the liver-shrinking pre-op diet has a better chance of having less than 5 total incisions during surgery.

Gastric sleeve surgery is performed laparoscopically, resulting in 1-5 small incisions on the abdomen. After surgery, these incisions are typically small and in many cases aren’t that noticeable.

Learn About: Laparoscopic Surgery Scars, Incisions, and Healing After Gastric Sleeve

Hair Loss After Gastric Sleeve

Hair loss after gastric sleeve surgery is common within the first year after surgery as the body starts adapting to the smaller stomach. The hair loss is specifically called telogen effluvium which can be caused by reduced food intake creating nutrient deficiencies, especially in protein, iron, and essential fatty acids.

In order to understand hair loss, it’s important to understand hair growth’s two-stage cycle. Almost all of the patient’s hair follicles remain in the first phase, called anagen. The additional 10-15% of hair stays in a “resting phase”, meaning the hair follicles are dormant. During certain times in life (such as stress, depression, nutrient deficiencies) more hair follicles became “resting” or dormant. Hair loss after gastric sleeve is usually noticed more in thinner hair as it sheds.

Hair loss occurs as the body begins adjusting although vitamins and supplements are a great way to prevent hair loss.

How to Avoid Excess Skin After Gastric Sleeve

The biggest hurdle patients face long-term is sagging, excess skin. Losing weight at a rapid pace can impact the amount of loose, sagging skin. Many patients choose to remove this excess skin with a plastic surgery procedure called skin removal. Skin elasticity begins to decrease the more weight gain patients face. It is important to avoid and reduce excess skin as you begin to lose weight.

Ways to Avoid Loose Skin and Tighten the Excess Skin;

  • Salt scrubs
  • Weight training
  • Biceps curl
  • Increase muscle mass through exercise and working out
  • Improve blood flow
  • Skin removal

Kevin Ayala Total Transformation Body Builder - Mexico Bariatric Center

Kevin Ayala Total Transformation Body Builder Front - Mexico Bariatric Center

Gastric Sleeve Nutritional Deficiencies

Aside from that, there are nutrient deficiencies that must be attended to through vitamins and supplements. These include Iron + Vitamin C, Calcium Citrate, and Multivitamins. Because gastric sleeve surgery is a newer bariatric procedure, long-term evidence-based data is not complete.

Gastric Sleeve Nutritional Deficiencies Include3

  • Iron deficiency
  • Vitamin B12 deficiency
  • Folic Acid deficiency
  • Calcium deficiency
  • Zinc deficiency
  • Micronutrient deficiencies

These nutritional deficiencies can cause hair loss, dumping syndrome, overall health, tiredness or feeling weak, and weight loss stalls or plateaus.

Weight Gain After Surgery

Weight gain after gastric sleeve surgery can happen at one time or another. These can start as stalls or plateaus, and grow into weight regaining if patients do nothing about it. After surgery, losing weight comes naturally and quickly. It feels like no matter how bad or good your eating habits are – patients still lose weight.

Causes of Weight Gain Include

  • Overeating
  • Bad nutrition habits
  • Not taking vitamins
  • Not eating proper amounts of fat or protein
  • Side effects of medication

If you are not losing weight after gastric sleeve, try to make adjustments based on things you can change. If a stall or plateau continues, you may consider looking into gastric sleeve revision surgery.

Stomach Stretching

One of the most common misconceptions after surgery is stretching the sleeve stomach from eating too much. Everyone asks, “Will my stomach stretch after surgery?”

Most patients think if they eat too much, the stomach will stretch back to its original size.

Fortunately, that is not true. Yes, the stomach is an elastic organ meaning it can vary in size and stretch slightly. The amount it can stretch is very insignificant.

To Prevent Stomach Stretching After Gastric Sleeve

  • Do not continuously snack throughout the day
  • Keep track of portion size
  • Do not eat impulsively
  • Control stress, depression, and lack of sleep to the best of your ability
  • Do not use eating as an outlet for negative emotions
  • Do not overuse sugar-filled or artificially sweetened drinks
  • Ask your doctor or primary physician about changes in medications if they increase hunger

Read More: Can Your Stomach Stretch After Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

If you have any questions or are interested in undergoing gastric sleeve surgery, please contact us or start by seeing if you pre-qualify!

Related Resources

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