THE BIG GASTRIC SLEEVE DIET GUIDE
In
Gastric Sleeve,
Weight Loss Surgeries by adminJuly 10, 2014
Gastric Sleeve (sleeve gastrectomy) surgery is quickly becoming the preferred surgery for weight loss.
Gastric sleeve surgery is quick, the results are impressive and the complication risk is low, less than 1% serious complication rate in the first 30 days after surgery (
Safety and Effectiveness of Newer Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Procedure).
YOUR LIVER PRIOR TO SURGERY
Your stomach is located just to your left of your liver. To access your stomach for most bariatric procedures, your surgeon will use a liver retractor. This is a device that lifts the liver up and out of the way so your surgeon can safely operate on the stomach without the liver getting in the way.
You have Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
You probably don’t know it, but you have
fatty liver disease. If you don’t and you’re morbidly obese, you’re lucky. Fatty liver disease is when fat cells accumulate in and around your liver cells. This causes the liver to function poorly.
It also increases the size of your liver. A larger liver makes gastric sleeve surgery much more difficult and increases the
risk of complications.
I’ve witnessed a handful of cases where the surgeon decides that the liver is so large that they cannot perform surgery safely. The surgery either then becomes an open procedure (non-laparoscopic) or they close and cancel until the patient decides to follow their 2 week pre-op diet.
2 WEEK PRE-OP DIET
Why do you need to be on such a strict diet before gastric sleeve surgery? Since you are overweight, so is your liver. And, as mentioned above, a large liver increases your surgical risk.
However, your liver can very quickly shrink in size if a strict diet is followed. This makes your surgery safer, you healthier, and prepares you for your diet the
first few weeks after surgery.
Typical 2 Week Pre-Op Diet
You should always follow your surgeon’s recommended diet 2 weeks prior to surgery. Most 2 week pre-op diets recommend:
- Increase your protein consumption
- Lower your carbohydrate consumption
- Avoid breads, pasta, cereals, rice, etc.
- Eliminate Sugars
- Eliminate candy, desserts, juices, sodas
The list below is a typical diet two weeks before gastric sleeve surgery.
- Breakfast
- Protein Shake – get a high quality protein shake from GNC or other supplement store in your area.
- Make sure there is no sugar in the protein shake.
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Snacks
- You can have a healthy, low carbohydrate snack in-between meals.
- Nuts, berries, vegetables, small salad with oil and vinegar, etc.
- Fluids
- Stay hydrated. This will help curb your hunger.
- You can typically drink anything sugar free and low in calories.
Remember, it’s very important to stick to your two week pre-op diet. This shrinks your liver, decreases your risk of complications and makes the surgery quicker and easier for your surgeon.
2 DAYS PRIOR TO SURGERY
Some surgeons will recommend you stop the following two days prior to surgery.
- Carbonated beverages
- Caffeine
Most surgeons will recommend you adhere to a strict clear liquid diet starting two days prior to your surgery. Clear liquids will include broth, sugar free Jell-O, sugar free popsicles, water and possibly one protein shake each day. Again, follow your surgeon’s instructions.
But others are fine.
