Obesity affects millions of individuals worldwide. It is not a disease, but it is a source of many lifestyle-related diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. Around 47.5% of the UAE residents are overweight, and their BMI ranges from 25 to 30. Whereas 13% of the population is obese or suffering from acute obesity. At least 2.8 million people are reported to lose life due to obesity each year, the primary reason being their inability to lose weight through stringent diet and exercise.
But today, there are advanced technological treatments that give the option to treat obesity with minimal diet and exercise. One such obesity solution is gastric sleeve surgery in Dubai. There are other obesity solutions as well, but gastric sleeve surgery offers few benefits that others don’t, and that is why it is one of the most popular obesity solutions in Dubai. Here is a brief about it.
What is gastric sleeve surgery?
Gastric Sleeve surgery, also called gastrectomy is a minimally invasive procedure in which the size of the stomach is reduced to limit the amount of food intake. Consequently, limited nutrients are absorbed, and the body starts breaking residuary fat to release energy to the body, resulting in weight loss.
Gastric sleeve surgery benefits in the following ways:
- It imposes calorific restrictions, therefore causes weight loss, and helps modulate blood sugar levels.
- Technically it is lesser complex than other competitive obesity surgeries like gastric bypass.
- It does not involve putting a foreign body such as a gastric band in the stomach.
- It shows tremendous weight loss and sugar level reversal results.
Here is what Dr. Girish Juneja has to say about gastric sleeve surgery.
8 things to do after gastric sleeve surgery to reduce risks
1. Follow a customised Bartriatic diet as advised by the doctor
The surgery reduces the size of the stomach and limits its absorption capacity. So, If you try to consume solid foods or those rich in sugars and fats, you may harm your stomach because the complex food may not break down and rot in the stomach causing side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps.
2. Don’t rush to work until you’re fine
The recovery time for every person will vary, but in general, the patient takes at least two weeks to recover and resume his daily activities or job. In the first few weeks, you are recommended to do only light activities. As you start feeling better, you may walk around. Walking is a good exercise and is often recommended, but don’t jog or run. Also, avoid lifting heavy objects for a few weeks.
3. Start with light exercises
It may take some time to fully recover. Until then, do some light physical activity or exercise. You can start light exercises such as walking after two to three weeks to strengthen the muscles and build stamina. Light exercise will also help the body heal internally, exchange worn-out cells, and regulate the body’s metabolism. More importantly, it will also help to merge into your normal life exercise routine.
Make sure to avoid heavy workouts and seek a physical trainer’s guidance before engaging in any outdoor activity.
4. Take the follow-up stringently
Ensure that you schedule follow-up appointments with your doctor to assess your recovery. By doing the same, you will know that you are on the right path concerning diet and exercise, and you are sure to achieve your weight loss goal.
5. Work on your cravings and swap heavy calorific food with alternatives
Most obese have a habit of munching unhealthy food all the time. Our digestive system is an alarm that indicates our body needs food, but what food we eat is completely chosen by us. A beverage cannot quench thirst, and a piece of cake cannot satiate hunger. We drink or eat unhealthy chunks to satisfy cravings, leading to obesity eventually.
After the surgery, adopting a healthy eating habit is important because the digestive system will not be the same as before, but you need not starve your body of vital nutrients. Read more about healthy recipes and foods to cook or order for a speedy recovery.
6. Take your medicines regularly
Since a part of your stomach is removed, your body will not be able to absorb many vitamins. The doctor will recommend multi-vitamin capsules to ensure your body does not suffer deficiency. Ensure that you take the same on time to avoid any health complications. Also, you may be required to take these medicines for a long time, sometimes even for a lifetime.
7. Avoid over-the-counter medications
People pop pills to avoid day-to-day health problems such as the common cold, headaches, or nausea. However, you should know that these medicines may cause contraindications with existing medicines, and you may suffer problems. So, it is advised to dwell on the safe side and seek a doctor’s advice before taking any over-the-counter medicine.
8. Keep a tab on calorie intake
Well, you must understand the logic of how the weight loss occurs after gastric sleeve surgery. The residual fats break down to release energy, which implies no excess calorie is needed. Infact, excess calorie intake will attract other problems, as discussed above.
Hence, it is important that you follow a bariatric diet and keep a tab on calorie intake closely. You will require at least 600 to 800 calories a day for healthy living while achieving weight loss. So, when you achieve weight loss, it is necessary to keep track of calorie intake. You may eat stomach-full food, but your food should be healthy and should not exceed your daily calorie intake limit.
Some more tips to help recovery after Gastric Sleeve surgery
- Drink plenty of fluids-: You may feel fuller to drink plenty of fluids, but you must keep yourself hydrated. You can set the alarm on your smartphone and drink small portions of fluid every hour. You must walk intermittently to be fit and drink more fluids in between.
- Use a compression garment after surgery– After the surgery, your abdomen has to heal. A compressional garment will improve circulation and help it heal faster. Moreover, it will also help to retain good posture and expedite weight loss.
- De-stress with guided meditation– Physically and mentally, you may feel exhausted. Adopt guided meditation to reduce stress, breathe properly, and heal quickly and naturally.
- Work on your postures- After surgery, you will need to work on your postures. The doctor will instruct you on how to sit or sleep properly after the surgery.
- Walk and exercise– A fit and active lifestyle will heal the surgery faster. Walk not only reduces DVT- Deep Vein Thrombosis but also improves circulation and better lung and heart functioning.
- Sleep well– The sleep cycle may disturb immediately after surgery, but you must care to get ample sleep in a day to avoid exhaustion or poor recovery.
Gastric sleeve surgery is a bariatric surgery that reduces the size of the stomach to limit the amount of hunger and food intake. However, the person must understand that stomach size alterations come with certain changes. You must control your dietary habits and calorie intake to retain the surgery’s results. The above points contain things to do after gastric sleeve surgery to help you maintain your weight loss goals and avoid any future complications.
Dr Girish Juneja has earned vast expertise in performing laparoscopic bariatric gastric sleeve surgery. Responsibly, he guides patients throughout the procedure and follow-ups as well. It is a low-risk and a high-potential way to tackle obesity and its problems. It is highly recommended for those with a BMI of more than 40. So, learn more about bariatric surgery or obesity solutions with us and book an appointment with our pronounced bariatric surgeon Dr Girish Juneja.
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Dr. Girish Juneja
Dr. Girish Juneja
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