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Caffeine is the most widely used psychoactive substance on earth,” says Dr. Solomon Snyder, director of the neurosciences department at Johns Hopkins University. Most of us won’t wake up till we get our morning cup of coffee. So, probably that’s one of your common questions if you’re considering bariatric surgery because most bariatric surgeons advise their patients not to consume caffeine after weight loss surgery.To be honest, it’d be better if you stop using caffeine once for all, but if that’s the one thing you’re not capable of, you should know that you can never have caffeine the same way you were used to doing in your pre bariatric lifestyle. There are strict limitations and instructions you must follow. First, you must know why caffeine is not beneficial to your post-op health circumstances, and then if still, you’re willing to have it in your life, how you can adapt caffeine habits to your new life to minimize the risk.

Why No Caffeine After Bariatric Surgery

Caffeine decreases your fatigue, speeds you up, improves your emotional health, short-term memory, and your mind’s overall functioning.The amazing effects of caffeine that make coffee and other caffeine beverages so tempting are numerable. But, what matters to bariatric surgery patients is the limited but significant facts about caffeine that can cause serious problems for weight loss surgery patients.

1- Dehydration

If you have high blood pressure, you might have used diuretics, medications prescribed by doctors to increase the amount of water, and salt that leaves out your body through urination. The biggest issue with caffeine is exactly this because it is a natural diuretic.The readers who have visited our blog post on diet guidelines after bariatric surgery know the importance of hydration and drinking water and liquids after bariatric surgery. So, try to limit your caffeine usage as much as possible, and pay even more attention to keeping your body hydrated by increasing your water intake after caffeine consumption.

2- Killing Patients Appetite

After the weight-loss operation, patients mostly have to deal with a lack of hunger. But you must eat a certain amount of food to get the necessary nutrients to your body and prevent malnutrition.Caffeine is famous for its appetite-killing abilities. Now you might think that what you want after surgery is for your unfulfilling hunger to vanish forever. This is something that happens naturally and stays with you sometimes for months after surgery. You don’t need any extra help with that.Moreover, you have protein needs you should meet to recover better and maintain muscle mass. After successful bariatric surgery, most bariatric surgery patients almost never feel hungry, and coffee will add up to that.

3- Difficulties in Food Digestion

Malabsorptive types of bariatric surgery change the process of food digestion in your body by limiting the vitamins and other nutrients absorbed by your body.Caffeine also makes some changes in nutrient absorption by increasing gut motility. This can result in the exertion of foods that have not been digested yet and malfunction in proper nutrient absorption.

4- Irritating Stomach

Because of the acidic nature of caffeinated beverages, there is a chance you feel irritation in your stomach after consuming caffeine. It might also cause vomiting, diarrhea, and slight burning in the stomach.

Some Tips When Drinking Caffeinated Drinks

How many cups of coffee do you drink now? 1, 2, 3,…, 5? Well, if your answer stands somewhere above numbers 3 and 5, or even more, you must know that you can never go back to that routine.Even if you drink only 2 cups of coffee a day, you MUST start with one cup of coffee per day, and not right after the bariatric procedures, but at least 30 days after surgery. Your coffee drinking habits need a fundamental change.Here are some do’s and don’ts when getting your daily caffeine intake:

Be creative. There are always alternatives for coffee that can make you feel awesome with the least side effects:

Check the Labels on all Drinks and Foods

You should be more sensitive about whatever you eat and drink. While you check the amount of fat, sugar, and protein, you should watch out for caffeine content as well. After all, it’s not just found in the coffee family. So, beware of all caffeinated food, and of course, energy drinks.Also, remember, you should ask your surgeon and their bariatric surgery team, the dietitian in particular, about exact instructions on consuming coffee depending on your individual circumstances.

One of the biggest concerns of bariatric patients is whether they can drink alcohol after bariatric surgery or not. This is such an important matter that some patients postpone their surgery just because they’re not ready to quit drinking.If you’re looking for the most honest, yet harsh, answer, yes, you have to stop drinking alcohol as it does not have any place in a healthy lifestyle. A lot of things change in your body when you undergo weight loss surgery. So, it makes complete sense when you’re told you cannot have the same eating and drinking habits as before.This prohibition is necessary for your health because drinking alcohol will cause you serious problems. Let’s dig deeper into this topic to understand what these dangers are and if there is any way you are allowed to consume alcohol without damaging your body.

Side Effects of Alcohol after Bariatric Surgery

1- Changes in Metabolism

One of the changes that occur in your body after gastric bypass surgery is the faster pace of elevating blood alcohol levels. Also, eating less by itself results in faster alcohol absorption in patients’ bloodstreams. So, you have just a single drink and become drunk in a blink of an eye.According to the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, a study in 2002 proved that due to the higher sensitivity of gastric bypass patients to ethanol, they experience a more rapid absorption of ethanol.

2- Slowing Weight Loss

Why do you want to have weight loss surgery? Isn’t it because you have to lose your excess weight rapidly? Then, if I tell you something will slow it down, will you want to have it?Well, that’s what alcohol does to your body. The excess calorie content in alcohol has a direct impact on your weight loss procedure as it does not only slows down your weight loss process but also might cause weight gain.

3- Risk of Addiction

In many cases, postoperative patients eat a lot of food because they’re addicted to it. How do most people eliminate their addiction? By replacing it with a new one. In bariatric patients’ cases, they give up eating too much but are in danger of food addiction, or other types of addictive behaviors.

4- Risk of Nausea and Vomiting

One of the risks of gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy is vomiting. On the other hand, when you’re drunk, there’s a high chance of vomiting. As we said before, metabolism changes after weight loss operations lower the time it gets for a person to get drunk and to the vomiting point.By drinking after the operation, you’re doubling the possibility of vomiting, which can cause inflammation in your stomach and make you suffer a lot.Nausea is another complication of weight loss procedures that brings about a noticeable inconvenience. Drinking is one of the actions that can increase the chance of nausea.

5- Low Blood Sugar

Due to the rapid weight loss after the operation, the glycogen level in your body is less than before. The reduction in complex carbohydrates use adds up to this lack of blood sugar. Moreover, alcohol consumption decreases glycogen.So, some patients end up having hypoglycemia, which is low blood sugar. Damage to the brain or nerves or in some cases, losing consciousness occurs to people with hypoglycemia.If you experience some of its symptoms, including loss of balance and poor sight, you should contact your doctor immediately. Meanwhile, you can take some glucose tablets. Also, try eating nutrients that have complex carbohydrates and preferably, protein.

Alcohol After Gastric Sleeve

As you might already know, during gastric sleeve surgery 75% of the patient’s stomach is removed. This removed part is responsible for producing hunger hormone and also, affects acid production in the stomach.Sleeve patients aren’t in the clear just because there is no bowel bypass. There are alcohol-absorbing consequences to the sleeve gastrectomy as well. As a result, the enzyme that is responsible for digesting alcohol in your stomach does not exist anymore.This is the reason why gastric sleeve patients are at higher risk of intoxication as their small bowel receives undigested, full-strength alcohol.

Alcohol After Gastric Bypass

Before gastric bypass surgery, patients have a larger stomach which allows food, alcohol, and digestive enzymes to mix. As a result, alcohol is absorbed in the small bowl more slowly. But after gastric bypass surgery, everything is different.In other words, alcohol is poured directly into the small bowel without digestion. What happens next is the immediate absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream of bariatric patients.

I Still Want to Drink Alcohol, What Should I Do?

• First of all, avoid alcohol for at least a year after surgery.
• If that’s a very long time for you, make sure not to use alcohol during the rapid postoperative weight-loss period, which lasts about 6 months after surgery.
• Before drinking alcohol, consult with your bariatric surgeon and dietitian. If you’re permitted to drink again, do NOT try carbonated beverages and sugary drinks.
• After consultation with your doctor, first, try alcohol at home. Try small amounts in the beginning. You don’t want to shock your body at all.
• Do not indulge in alcohol consumption. Beware of your frequency of alcohol consumption.
• Remember that after a bariatric procedure, even small amounts of alcohol can cause intoxication and low blood sugar.
• You will have different emotions after surgery till your body gets used to its new conditions. If you find yourself drinking whenever you’re dealing with negative feelings, consult with your doctor because probably you need psychiatric treatment.
• If you want to drink, at least try to choose low-calorie drinks like Never drink and drive, even after consuming only minimal alcohol: red or white wine, no-sugar bloody mary, light beer, and hot toddy (herbal tea with whiskey).
• Avoid high-calorie drinks like sugary cocktails and margaritas.
• If you’re going out, try not to leave home with an empty stomach. Eat a high-protein snack. This way, you’ll avoid alcohol abuse.
• Avoid driving, even if you had a small glass of wine.
• Try drinking with food because it reduces the pace of alcohol absorption. 
• When you try alcohol for the first time after your surgery, do it at home, to see how much is safe to drink until intoxication occurs and how long it lasts.
• Do not miss your vitamins; alcohol makes the absorption of some vitamins difficult.

Alcohol Abuse or Alcohol Use Disorder

AUD or Alcohol Use Disorder developed mostly in patients who have this disorder before surgery, which is why some bariatric surgeons do not admit to performing an operation on them.According to studies, this condition mainly appears in the first two years of patients’ post-operative life. Also, AUD is mostly seen in patients who undergo gastric bypass. But if you can get used to controlling your alcohol use or eliminating it from your life in the first two years, you’re one big step ahead.

Ways that Help You Reduce Your Alcohol Consumption

1- Ask for Your Doctor’s Help

Never lie to your surgeon, psychiatrist, and dietitian during your follow-up sessions. There is nothing to be ashamed of. There are hundreds of people that experience the exact same circumstances you are feeling. So, if you’re secretly still drinking and can’t quit, tell them. They will certainly help you.

2- Meditate on Your Goal

Constantly remind yourself of your ultimate goal when you agreed on a surgery. You came all this way to have a healthy lifestyle, better body image, and improved quality of life. Just close your eyes and think about your ideal body image. Imagine yourself doing all the activities you were not capable of doing before. If quitting alcohol is all it takes, why not? It’s worth it, isn’t it?

3- You Need the Help of Your Beloved Ones

If you’ve read our article on the psychological and physical effects of bariatric surgery on patients, you know one of the ways you can reduce the risks is through the companionship of your family and friends. You need to first, educate yourself and then, inform them of all the changes your body will go through.Let them know how your body needs to replace a new addiction with food addiction. Whenever you feel like you cannot tolerate not drinking, spend time with them. Let the emotions and the enjoyable time you spend with them distract your mind.

The necessity of a bariatric surgery psychological evaluation is not apparent to all patients and hence many of them feel stressed when it comes to this step of their bariatric assessment. I have prepared this article with the aim of helping you have a clearer understanding of this psychological assessment as one of the major parts of your pre-surgery experience.

Why Bariatric Surgery Psychological Evaluation Is Necessary?

Weight loss surgery is not an overnight decision. Most obese patients spend months and even years researching and evaluating in order to make the best decision. The more you know about bariatric procedures, the higher your chance of success is. But there is some information about you yourself that may not be easy for you to collect. This is when a psychiatrist comes to your help to better understand your aims in addition to your psychiatric conditions.

Are You Mentally Ready for the Surgery?

As I’ve said many times in all my articles, both the short and long-term success of your surgery depends to a high extent on your commitment to your new post-surgery lifestyle. According to a study by Dr. Allison G. Dynder, a clinical psychologist, psychological evaluation of candidates helps the psychiatrist and bariatric surgeon to better understand the readiness of patients.During this clinical assessment, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, or mental health professional who is familiar with bariatric surgery procedures examines patients from a psychological perspective and realizes their motivation, readiness for surgery, and all the mental factors and behavioral challenges that could cause success or failure or surgery.These factors reveal whether patients can make any required adjustment through surgery and the necessary lifestyle changes. Also, this includes psychosocial evaluation of patients as well. So, they might need to know about the social consequences of obesity in your life too.

Psychological Support Both Before and After the Surgery

In your pursuit of improved quality of life and mental and physical health conditions, a proficient bariatric psychologist must accompany you from the very beginning of this journey to months or sometimes years after it.After examining your mental situation, their main responsibility is to target your mental worries and trying to take a load off your shoulder by educating you. The more you know about this psychosocial assessment and how you should handle its challenges, the more relaxed you will feel.If bariatric surgery candidates need therapy prior to weight-loss surgery, they will be provided with psychological treatment to achieve the best bariatric outcomes.Beware that this clinical assessment is not the same for all patients. But it is important that you have a positive experience and be able to build a trustful relationship with your psychologist because if you pass this state conveniently, later, when you will experience the psychological negative effects of bariatric surgery including mood swings, you’ll feel more comfortable to share your thoughts with them.No one can provide you with sufficient psychological support like an expert.

Sections of a Bariatric Surgery Psychological Evaluation

Even though this test seems very frightening, it will lessen your stress if you know what it contains. The questions the psychologist asks helps them gather useful data on your behavioral and emotional status. In addition, your motivation and expectations must become clear during the assessment too as their necessary domains for assessment.- The Behavioral assessment covers aspects mostly related to your previous attempts to lose weight and nonsurgical treatment of obesity, eating, dietary habits (like overeating), frequency of physical activity, and your capacity for taking risks when it comes to health and psychological issues. – To examine your cognitive and emotional readiness, the psychologist makes sure whether you know everything about weight-loss surgical procedures, alongside the associated risks. In simple words, they want to make sure whether you know what you are agreeing to or not.Also, they will want to know how familiar you are with the dangers of severe obesity, the causes of morbid obesity, in addition to your reaction to psychosocial factors that could cause you emotional, mental harm.- Some psychiatrists ask bariatric surgery patients questions about their developmental history. This information helps them discover your family history, the traumas of your life, history of depression, and your critical ups and downs. Many obese patients suffer from childhood traumas, like the history of abuse or sexual abuse in the early ages, which caused them eating disorders in their adulthood. These obstacles challenge patients when it comes o adjusting to their new healthy lifestyle.- Ultimately, you are asked questions about your current life situation, the stressors that noticeably affect your life, and the emotional support you get from your family and friends. More importantly, what is your motivation and expectations?Here’s a more detailed overview of what psychiatrists ask during the assessment of candidates:

Who Might Fail a Weight-Loss Surgery Psychological Evaluation?

This question is basically wrong because this test is not a kind of pass or fail. Its main goal is for you, your surgeon, your psychiatrist, and the whole bariatric surgery team to recognize the potential challenges you, as a bariatric patient might face in the future and try to prevent them as much as possible.If patients are excluded from surgery just because of eating disorders, no one can undergo weight-loss surgery because let’s face it, most of the obese patient population suffers from eating disorders like anxiety eating.If there’s any serious concern, your psychologist will share it with you and work on a solution to prepare you for the surgery. If a specific treatment is needed, you’ll be given recommendations. However, there are some rare cases that surgeons refuse to perform surgery on until they are assured there is no danger for the patient and they’re mentally ready.- Hospitalization due to mental health issues over the course of last year- Previous suicide attempt, more than once- Uncontrolled severe anxiety disorders- History of not following medical instructions- Not controlled, serious personality disorders- Alcohol or active substance abuse within the last 6 months- Not controlled mental illness- Severe eating disorders- Not enough self-motivationBeware the final decision depends on your surgeon’s decision.

How to Pass a Pre-Bariatric Surgery Psychological Evaluation

That is the main question most patients have before their pre-operative psychological testing. But the truth is if you don’t have severe psychiatric disorders, there is no room for extra worries. And it is not like they want to fail you for no reason but they should be sure you are ready. For instance, if you have not controlled bipolar disorder, the aim of this evaluation is not to exclude anyone from the weight-loss procedure but to make sure they will be mentally healthy during their post-operative life.The psychiatrists who are responsible for evaluation prior to bariatric surgery are usually specialized in health psychology and do their best to help you maintain healthy in the future and experience the best postoperative outcomes.So, you only need to do one thing: tell them the truth. Do not hide your psychiatric history from your surgeon and bariatric psychologist. Even if they identify you are not ready for surgery, they will do their best to help you complete all the stages of preparation for surgery and become mentally ready for the procedure.So, no worries. Just tell the truth and be yourself. Tell them all the difficulties that are affecting your life because of extreme obesity, all the psychosocial stressors that do not let you be as happy as you deserve.And be sure everything will be ok!

Bariatric surgery, also known as weight-loss surgery, has become the ultimate solution and most effective treatment for obesity when exercise and diet won’t work anymore. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, its popularity is increasing every day, among women in particular.There are three main problems obese women face more than others during pregnancy: babies with larger birth weights, gestational diabetes, and high blood pressure. Therefore, the majority of bariatric surgery cases are now performed on reproductive-aged women who want to eliminate these problems and become pregnant. However, one question still exists: is pregnancy after bariatric surgery safe?After reading this article, you’ll have a thorough insight into a comparison between pregnancy before and after this operation, the pros and cons of pregnancy after weight-loss surgeries, the best time to get pregnant, practical suggestions regarding detailed guidelines of nutrition and exercise before and after pregnancy, in addition to the answers of some of your most common questions. 

Pregnancy Before and After Bariatric Surgery

Obesity creates a lot of physical problems for women including the ones that affect their reproductive system, most of which can be solved after bariatric surgery and reaching a healthy weight, hence the better overall physical condition. Findings of a reported issue of the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing in November 2004 showed that for the first time, women who were dealing with infertility due to obesity and had to have gastric bypass surgery or any other types of weight-loss surgery faced notable growth in their regular ovulation.Even though women with a higher BMI are at more risk of infertility or miscarriage, bariatric surgery can also create some worries for women, for instance, what if my baby is smaller than normal because I eat less than before and they might not get as much nutrition as needed?The good news is that just like obesity that has a final treatment, which is bariatric surgery, all the troubles women might face during pregnancy after these surgeries are solvable! However, still, you need to have clear-cut information on these problems and the solutions.The table below indicates a comprehensive comparison of pregnancy before and after bariatric surgery.

Obesity-Related Risks During Pregnancy	Post-Bariatric Surgery Risks During Pregnancy
Gestational diabetesBlood pressure disordersLarger than normal size babiesPostpartum hemorrhageNot being able of natural deliveryDelay in maturity	Fetus or babies with sizes smaller than standardSlower growthPremature birth

Now that you have a clear image of the disadvantages of pregnancy while obese and after bariatric surgery, let’s delve into some medical solutions you’ll find super practical in order to have a happy, healthy pregnancy.

The Best Time to Get Pregnant After Bariatric Surgery

Most doctors recommend postponing pregnancy until at least 12 months after the surgery. The main reason for this recommendation is that obesity is associated with increased pregnancy complications, like gestational diabetes and preeclampsia (pregnancy-related high blood pressure). These problems do not vanish as soon as the surgery is done and are most likely to be treated at some point between 12 and 18 months after bariatric surgery.The other logic behind this idea is that after bariatric surgery you’ll start to lose weight. So, it is better to wait till your BMI stabilizes, and then you can get ready for pregnancy with ease of mind.However, as there are still some successful pregnancies right after the surgery, some experts believe there is no specific time, just do it whenever you feel ready!Regardless of the time of your pregnancy, it is wise to take everything into consideration. After all, pregnancy by itself brings about some abnormalities in your physical situation. You do not want to make it worse by not paying enough attention to your health and that of your baby.

Recommended Birth Control for Pregnant Women After Bariatric Surgery

If you’ve decided to listen to the first group of doctors, you need to prevent pregnancy as much as possible till at least 12 months after your operation.For sufficient contraception, your body needs a certain amount of hormones. Taking pills is a popular method among women, however, they cannot give you the necessary hormone and that is not something you can gamble on.Therefore, it is suggested that you take barrier methods. If you yourself are willing to make changes to your body in order to prevent pregnancy before your scheduled time, you can try female-controlled methods. If not, simply just ask your partner to use male condoms. This can all be arranged in an agreement between the two of you. But remember, it’d be much better if you do not jeopardize your condition by taking oral medication and depending solely on them.

Nutritional Guidelines for Pregnancy After Bariatric Surgery

of nutrition your body delivers is for sure different before and after weight-loss surgery. By now you might be used to taking vitamins and mineral supplements every day in order not to lose your strength due to eating less than before the weight-loss surgery.You might be under the wrong impression that now that you are eating less, the fetus will not grow as much as it is supposed to. No worries because your baby takes what they need for growth from you. So, as long as you are healthy, they’re healthy.Even women who did not undergo a bariatric procedure could face problematic nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy. What you need to know is accurate information about the exact nutrition your body needs during this time, and of course, the necessary amount your body should be given on a daily basis.

Supplement	Daily Necessary Amount
Iron	45 – 600 mg
B12	350 – 500 mcg (Orally taken) 1000mcg (Injections)
Folic Acid	400 – 800 mcg
Vitamin D	3,000 – 8000 mg(Pay more attention to Vitamin D absorption in the last trimester)
Calcium	1,500 – 2,400 mg
Protein	Minimum level ==> 60 grams per day

Monthly Necessary Check-ups During Pregnancy After Bariatric Surgery

In addition to getting the vital nutrition for the health of yourself and your baby, don’t forget to have your provider check your vitamin levels regularly. These check-ups differentiate a bit based on the type of surgery you had. Here’s a detailed presentation of what you need to know. Just find the ones related to your surgery and keep up with the suggested plan. 

Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) After Weight-Loss Surgery

Do not forget continuous glucose monitoring during this time as well. If your BMI is over 30 it is likely that your doctor will regular glucose tolerance tests (OGTT or mini-GTT) to check whether you have gestational diabetes or not.A Glucose Tolerance Test is not advised just in case of bypass surgery because you might face what is called ‘dumping syndrome’. So, to make sure there is no gestational diabetes, consult with your surgery team and doctor to give you a replacement.

Food to Avoid While Pregnancy after Bariatric Surgery

• Raw shellfish contains harmful bacteria, viruses, and toxins that might give you food poisoning. So, try to avoid them as much as possible.
• Too many pollutants like dioxins in oily fish make it a dangerous food for your baby’s health. Do not eat this type of fish more than twice a week.
• Tuna is a rich resource of Omega 3 and protein for pregnant women. However, the permitted amount is 2 steaks of tuna steaks. at most

Other foods and Drinks to Avoid during Pregnancy after Bariatric Surgery

maximum amount of caffeine you can take is 200mg per day. Here’s a list of some of the most popular drinks and food with their specific caffeine level:

• Instant coffee (one mug) ==> 100mg
• Filter coffee (one mug) ==> 140mg
• Cola (one can) ==> 40mg
•  Milk chocolate (one 50-gram bar) ==> 10mg (or less)
• Green and regular tea (one mug) ==> 75mg
• Dark chocolate (one 50-gram bar) ==> 25 mg (or less)

Will my baby have any side effects because I’ve had bariatric surgery?

If you still have this question, do not worry. All you need to do is to make sure you have appropriate eating habits and your body is delivered all the necessary nutrition, including vitamins and mineral supplementation.Also, to prevent any childhood obesity problems for your baby, have a balanced diet while pregnant and after that during the breastfeeding period.

Focus on Healthy Weight Gain

If you’re not mentally ready for any kind of weight gain, then you’re still not ready for a pregnancy. But if an unexpected one occurred, try to forget weight loss. However, it is important to control your weight in order not to gain excessive weight as it will affect both your mental and physical situation. So, try to focus on healthy weight gain instead.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) published some numbers that indicate the ideal weight gain for women according to their BMI before pregnancy:

BMI	Ideal Weight Gain During Pregnancy
18.5–24.9	25–35 lbs
25–29.9	15–25 lbs
30 <	11–20 lbs

If your body image irritates you as it might remind you of how you used to look, take it as a serious matter and visit a psychiatrist immediately.

Exercise During and After Pregnancy

Exercise will become an inseparable part of bariatric surgery patients. On the other hand, pregnant women are strongly advised to do some regular exercise in order to have healthier babies and easier delivery. Therefore, as a pregnant woman, you should consider routine physical activities that fit your physical circumstances.If you’ve just become pregnant, it is not a good time to begin a new exercise routine. Keep up your previous one, and if you were not used to exercising at all, just try to add some effective, yet not so intense activities to your lifestyle, for instance, walking.Before PregnancyIf you’re not used to exercising, just consult with your doctor to see how you can slowly add it to your life. Here are a few points to consider:-  Swimming and walking are good for you and your baby.- An activity/exercise regime of a minimum of 30 minutes per day and five times a weekAfter Pregnancy- Don’t start with heavy activities. Just give it a shot slowly, stick to the plan, and improve it gradually.- The best time for exercising is after nursing as your breasts are not that full and movement is much easier.- Wearing a sports bra adds up to the comfortability of your workout to a high extent. Wear one, especially in case you’ve got large breasts.- It’d be better if you do not drink water during exercise. However, a glass of water before and after the workout is strongly recommended.- Walking is a great way of exercise both during and after pregnancy. You can take short walks outside with your baby as well.- If the weather is not good for a pleasant, short walk outside the house, try having some fun activities in the house with your little one, maybe dancing?- Make sure to take a shower or at least wash your breasts after exercise as some babies prefer their food not to be salty.

Can I Get Pregnant with an Intragastric Balloon in My Stomach?

In comparison with other types of bariatric surgery, the gastric balloon is much simpler and reversible. However, if you’re planning to lose weight using a gastric balloon to increase fertility, it is better that you reach your ideal weight and then go for pregnancy.But sometimes, women get pregnant while having the balloon in their stomachs. This is not so problematic, but the removal of the balloon depends on its type. The 12-months balloons will be dissolved at the end of the year and there is no need for your doctor to remove them, but, the 6-month ones should be removed mostly by anesthesia, which is not suitable for pregnant women, thus not suggested.

Breastfeeding After Having Bariatric Surgery

Most women are concerned about whether they still can breastfeed after bariatric surgery or not. The answer is yes. Breastfeeding is recommended, however, specific attention to nutrition is still very important in this period.If you have any type of nutrition deficiencies, this will affect your milk since it will lack the necessary supplements for your baby’s growth.You can simply consult with your baby’s pediatrician, let them know about your bariatric surgery and your previous and current circumstances, and ask them to monitor your baby’s growth even more closely.If you have not reached your ideal weight before pregnancy and you’re still a bit overweight, there is a probability of after giving birth your milk comes later than usual. In this case, just talk to your doctor and ask for some advice that’ll streamline the breastfeeding process.

Nausea During Pregnancy after Bariatric Surgery

Nausea and vomiting are common in pregnancy. But you can manage it with dietary advice that’ll help you avoid or treat complications:

• Avoid food with strong odors.
• Eat small but frequent meals.
• Take a short walk before meals.
• Make a list of all the food that cause you nausea and try to avoid them.

Bottom LineEven if you’re not thinking about having a child, you might change your mind at some point in the future. However, obesity is a barrier that not only makes pregnancy so risky but in some cases makes it almost impossible.You might have tried everything but still, you’re dealing with excessive weight. In case you’ve done your research and found weight-loss surgeries practical, do not worry about pregnancy after the operation.The problems your mind is concerned about now, including any potential nutritional deficiencies, can all be controlled to a high level after bariatric surgery. But obesity creates barriers on your way to motherhood that cannot be overcome under any circumstances.Just wait for some months after surgery, prepare your mind and body, and you’re good to go: welcome to motherhood! 

Alongside the many physical and mental challenges being overweight creates, overcoming obesity is too difficult that any method practiced by obese people at some point becomes unbearable without any remained, satisfactory changes. As a result, more people are looking for permanent, practical solutions that help induce weight loss.

Bariatric surgery has notably gained in popularity over the last decade. However, since there are different types of this surgery, patients mostly find it difficult to choose the right one.

Gastric bypass and gastric sleeve are the two most common types of bariatric surgery. Therefore, one of the main questions obese people have is which is right for me?

Choosing the right weight-loss surgery needs thorough research about the surgical procedures, pros and cons, costs, risks, and so on. Also, you must know the traits of the ideal patient for each bariatric surgery type and then decide which one matches you the best.

We’ve put together this blog post to answer all the above-mentioned questions, in addition to some extra information including food restrictions, exercise schedule, and expected weight loss after gastric bypass and gastric sleeve surgeries.

Gastric Sleeve vs Gastric Bypass 

Before delving into the differences between their procedures, we should mention the similarities between gastric bypass and gastric sleeve surgeries.

First of all, both of them decrease the amounts of food patients can eat after surgery in comparison to before the operation. So, if you believe you have to eat less to lose weight, but cannot do it by yourself, both gastric bypass and gastric sleeve are options worth considering.

Moreover, both of the procedures are done using a laparoscope, which means a camera using a lighted scope enters the patient’s body to perform the operation.

Gastric Bypass Procedure

During gastric bypass surgery, also known as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, the small intestine is connected to a newly created small stomach pouch where food consumed will stay before heading to the small intestine. This means that the ingested food bypasses the first part of your small intestine and the majority of your stomach.

As the gastric pouch is really small, it gets full fast, so the obese person cannot eat as much as they could before the surgery.

Gastric Sleeve Procedure

A gastric sleeve involves removing a part of your stomach. The reason for calling this operation is that during the process a narrow sleeve is created and the larger part of the stomach (the curved part) is removed.

What remains is a banana-shaped portion, which is about 20% of your stomach.

Cost of Gastric Sleeve vs Gastric Bypass

There is no fixed price for bariatric surgery as it depends on many factors including the country where the operation is being done, the expertise of your surgeon, the hospital you’re staying in, and etc.

However, there is one invariable statement: in a situation when all the other factors are the same, gastric sleeve is approximately 25% cheaper than gastric bypass.

If you have read the previous part, this cost difference makes sense because gastric bypass is a more complicated operation involving an extra step in addition to more challenges for bariatric surgeons.

If you’re considering this operation, try not to limit yourself to one location as you’re free to experience a cheaper surgery in a more pleasant location that can be mixed with an enlivening vacation. So, you can have the best of the two worlds 🙂

In case you’re interested in the costs of all types of bariatric surgery, you should take a look at our article on bariatric surgery costs worldwide.

Recovery After Gastric Sleeve vs Gastric Bypass

If you’re lucky and everything turns out to be OK, you should not feel that much pain after the bariatric procedures and you can leave the hospital about 1 or 2 days afterward.

Gastric sleeve patients are more likely to stay in the hospital for a maximum of two days. Some patients feel so good that they can leave within a few hours.

However, it all depends on the obese patients’ situation, how well they feel and how much pain they have.

As gastric bypass involves more complications, the minimum amount of recovery time in the hospital is two days. In case of further complications, this time will be extended.

Also, if the surgery is not done laparoscopically which requires an incision in the patient’s abdomen, as it takes longer for the incision to heal, leaving the hospital will be postponed even more.

Diet After Gastric Sleeve vs. Gastric Bypass

Unfortunately, there’s no solution for morbid obesity that can eliminate it with a quick spell without you having to lift a finger. Just like any other operation, bariatric surgery’s success depends on the adjustments you make to your eating habits after the operation.

As your stomach’s space has been reduced, for sure you have to eat smaller portions of food. So, in order to be healthy and energetic all the time, it’d be better to prepare small meals during the day.

For the first two weeks, you’re only allowed to drink liquids. This will result in your body getting used to taking smaller food intakes.

Regardless of the type of surgery, after two weeks, you must add vitamins and soft food to your diet. Then, gradually, you’re allowed to take more high-protein food. Remember, under no circumstances you should consume high-fat foods, even if it contains enough protein and vitamins.

To sum up, your food restrictions will be to a high extent the same after both gastric sleeve and gastric bypass. The main difference between the two types of weight loss surgery is the size of your stomach pouch.

The pouch created by sleeve surgery is capable of holding 3 ounces, while the one after gastric bypass can hold only 1 ounce, which is basically the size of a golf ball.

This pouch is stretchable. So, stop eating whenever you get full. Otherwise, its size will increase and you’ll have weight regain in the long run.

Remember:

– Eat slowly.

– Avoid Difficult-to-digest food.

– Eat multiple small portions of food per day.

– Chew your food carefully.

– Drink a lot of liquids and water.

– Take your vitamins.

Physical Activity After Gastric Sleeve vs Gastric Bypass

Patients who undertake bariatric surgery due to severe obesity are not recommended to exercise till 3 to 4 weeks after the operation. But weight loss won’t occur, at least not in a progressive, sustainable way, if you do not add regular exercise to your life.

Staying active not only increases the speed of your weight loss but helps maintain your ideal weight whenever you get there.

The good news is that the frequency and level of your physical activity after gastric sleeve does not differ so much from gastric bypass. You should just be aware of some advice experts mostly give, then you’ll be good to go.

As your body is still healing a few months after surgery, the only exercise recommended during the first one or two, in some cases three months, is walking.

The important point is to be active on a regular basis. Keep it short, but regular. So, instead of walking 2 hours a day and then having no activity for 4 days, stay faithful to a 30-min walk every day.

After the first month, if you feel ready to add up to the level of your exercise, you can start by jogging. In soma cases, depending on the patients’ health condition and physical strength, lifting weights can be a good idea as well.

Beware of adding any type of activity to your plan without consulting with your doctor.

If you had any routine before the surgery, you might be able to pick up where you’ve left off after the third month.

Some other activities you can add to your lifestyle 3 or 4 months after surgery:

– Yoga

– Walking

– Swimming

– Dancing

– Resistant Training

– Hiking

– Weight Training

Risks and Side Effects of Gastric Sleeve vs Gastric Bypass Surgery

You don’t want to rush into a bad decision before knowing what is expecting you after different types of bariatric surgery. After all, no surgery in the world comes with no side effects, and DO NOT ever trust anyone who tells you “here’s a solution to lose your excess body weight with no side effects!”

Risks and Side Effects of Gastric Bypass

• Breakage
• Dumping syndrome
• Stomach ulceration
• Infection in the abdomen
• Wound infection
• Nausea
• Internal bleeding
• Pneumonia
• Nutrition deficiencies

Risks and Side Effects of Gastric Sleeve

• Blood clots
• Staple line failure
• Leakage
• Skin separation
• Nutrition deficiencies
• Stomach perforation

The above-mentioned surgical complications were only the most common side effects gastric sleeve and gastric bypass patients experience after the surgery. In case you encounter other challenges, including an increase in your heart rate or blood pressure, make sure to let your doctor know and ask for immediate solutions.

Expected Weight Loss

Reports show that for some time after gastric bypass (three years after the weight-loss surgery) the average number for excess weight loss is something between 70 and 75%. In other words, if you have 100 pounds excess weight, on average you’ll lose 70 pounds. This number increases depending on your body’s reaction to the surgery and your faithfulness to a healthy diet and exercise schedule.

On the other hand, gastric sleeve is reported to bring about 60 to 65% loss of excess weight. The difference is slight, yet again its influence on your final decision depends on the amount of excess weight you want to lose.

Speed of Excess Weight Loss

In most cases, patients who undergo gastric bypass surgery experience faster weight loss right after the operation. But if you’re concerned about the long-term results, the results have shown equal weight loss for both gastric sleeve and gastric bypass approximately three years after the surgery.

Also, you should know that whether you choose gastric bypass or gastric sleeve, your BMI before the surgery directly affects the speed of your weight loss. To put it another way, the higher your excess weight is, the faster you’ll lose it after the operation.

Gastric Sleeve vs. Gastric Bypass Surgery Failure Rate

Studies show gastric sleeve surgery has been successful about 80-90% of the time, which means the range of its failure rate is about 10-20%. The most significant weight loss occurs about one year after the surgery when people lose about 60-70% of their excess weight.

On the other hand, recent research demonstrated the failure rate of gastric bypass about 11.2% within one year after the surgery.

Bear in mind one of the factors that impacts the effectiveness of your surgery is that whether you have chosen the right one for your circumstances or not. So, let’s take a look at the requirements for both gastric sleeve and gastric surgery to see which one fits your needs better.

Good Candidates for Each Weight Loss Procedure

High BMI

Your BMI (Body Mass Index) is a significant factor that directly affects your decision. For patients with BMI over 45, gastric bypass is preferred.

Diabetes

Gastric bypass has proven to be more effective in the case of patients who had diabetes. However, both result in the betterment of diabetes. So, if everything else is prepared for sleeve bypass, do not change your mind just for this reason. The difference is not that notable at all.

Severe Acid Reflux Disease

If you have severe reflux disease before the surgery, you’d better consider a gastric sleeve as in most cases it seems to get worse after this type of bariatric surgery.

Multiple Abdominal Surgeries

Severe scars around the small intestine make it difficult to operate on it. Therefore, sleeve gastrectomy is much better for patients with a history of multiple abdominal surgeries.

High-Risk Surgical Conditions

Because of the easier process of sleeve gastric, both its anesthesia and recovery time are shorter. Therefore, in case you’re a high-risk patient, for instance, who suffer from heart disease and thus cannot lose your sensation and awareness for a long time, a gastric sleeve is a better option.

Severe Depression or Anxiety

If you are under specific medication due to depression or anxiety, for an effective treatment, you should avoid gastric bypass as it affects your body’s medication absorption. Moreover, you must inform your doctor of all the medications you take during the consulting sessions before the surgery.

To Sum up

If you’ve tried many methods, have been on strict diets, and got no answer, you might be considering whether to have bariatric surgery or not.

If your answer is positive, still you have to figure out which bariatric surgery suits you the best, gastric bypass or gastric sleeve?

In order to make a good decision, don’t just rely on the information about the two types of bariatric procedures, but determine what you want from this surgery, and which one’s requirements apply to you.

Have a look at this overview; in case you have any questions about any of the sections, just get back and give it another look. Good luck with your surgery!

After stomach reduction or bariatric surgery, it takes time for the body to accept the reorganization of the stomach and intestines applied in these restrictive procedures. During this process, patients must pay attention to their diet and what is eaten. Otherwise, they might encounter extremely serious complications such as dumping syndrome. In this article, we will discuss dumping syndrome in detail so that you will know what it exactly is, what its symptoms are, and how it can be prevented or cured. rapid gastric emptying that occurs after weight-loss surgical procedures in response to the rapid passage of stomach contents (consumed foods) into the small intestine as a result of regulation and its hyperextension.As a result, some hormones like serotonin and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide are released. This complication causes discomfort due to hemodynamic and neurovegetative disorders and can have severe impacts on the health-related quality of patients’ lives.The most destructive damage dumping syndrome creates is trouble in the absorption of nutrients from food, especially calcium absorption, which will result in anemia, weakened bones, or a low amount of red blood cells.It is extremely important for people to comply with the diet given by their doctor so that they won’t experience this difficulty after the gastro-resection procedure.

Early Dumping Syndrome

Early dumping syndrome occurs within 30 minutes of eating. In this syndrome, the processed food particles the patient consumes pass through the stomach log quickly and unsuccessfully. This rapid passage increases motility in the small intestine as well as the person’s osmotic pressure.Due to the increased osmotic pressure, blood flow slows down, significant vasodilation occurs, and intercellular function in blood plasma is impaired. The small intestine secretes histamine, serotonin, and quinine to correct these conditions. These secretions cause the intestinal wall of the small intestine to stretch.Early dumping syndrome usually has some symptoms including vomiting, weakness, abdominal cramping, and nausea.

Late Dumping Syndrome

Late dumping syndrome is the syndrome that usually occurs after consuming food and drinking. Here, food (especially overconsumption or unsuitable food) reaches your duodenum quickly after digestion. In this case, your blood sugar starts to rise.Late symptoms usually appear within 1 to 3 hours or at least 45 minutes after meals. It causes trembling, hunger, concentration disorder, dizziness, and confusion.

Dumping Syndrome Levels

Dumping syndrome can develop in 3 different levels:Mildly Effective: In this type, the person only experiences increased heart rate and fatigue. It usually disappears within a short time. It does not seriously affect a person’s life.Moderate: Sharp deterioration in perception, increased heart rate, bloating, intense weakness, irritability, and emotional lability are seen at this level. The effect diminishes when the person lies down.High level: This type of dumping can occur in a mixed manner as a semato-adreal and a vigo-insular crisis.

Dumping Syndrome Symptoms

The most prominent feature is a feeling of intense weakness for about 15 to 20 minutes during or after eating. Dumping syndrome symptoms may develop as follows:- The suffering patient experiences a feeling of fullness in their stomach;- They feel a heat radiating upwards from the stomach;- Excessive sweating may occur and tremors begin;- A feeling of general weakness, accompanied by tinnitus, drowsiness, dizziness and trembling of the limbs, even blurred vision occurs;- Heart rate and breathing rate slows down;- The person feels a constant urge to urinate;- The worsening headache may spread.- In the progression of these symptoms, people may experience conditions such as diarrhea, stomach growling (rumbling), and memory loss.

Sugar, Diarrhea Dumping Syndrome

The main reason for encountering this complication is the consumption of sugary food or things other than your diet. Since the stomach is smaller than before and connects directly to the small intestine, excessive amounts of food or indigestible eatables are absorbed directly. In this case, a rapid increase in blood sugar levels occurs.Dumping syndrome occurs, especially with diarrhea. Abdominal pain or burning that starts in people progresses to diarrhea.

Dumping Syndrome Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia is one of the severe symptoms seen in dumping syndrome. It occurs as an exaggerated response to glucose absorption in the small intestine, especially when the carbohydrate load is rapidly discharged.Early symptoms of dumping syndrome hypoglycemia may include bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, tachycardia, flushing, and hypertension (high blood pressure).

Dumping Syndrome Diagnosis

Based on a study published by the US National Library of Medicine if patients have more than one of the dumping syndrome symptoms (both late and early), the doctor should suspect the presence of this post-weight loss surgery complication.Oral glucose tolerance test is one of the most effective methods in diagnosing dumping syndrome considering the blood glucose level. Even if the results showed no sign of dumping syndrome, it’d better take continuous glucose monitoring tests for some time after the surgery.Glycemia measurements can also be used to measure the blood sugar level. Some doctors also prepare questionnaires based on dumping syndrome symptoms, by filling which your doctor will have the necessary information for the right diagnosis.Moreover, it is vital to constantly check hormone insulin levels in your blood as an excessive amount of it, especially after eating is very dangerous.So, in case you feel any discomfort, your doctor can easily recognize whether you have this complication or not in order to prescribe the right treatment.

Dumping Syndrome Treatment

In order to prevent or eliminate this common complication, you must change your lifestyle, most importantly your eating habits.High-sugar food, unnecessary fat, and refined carbonates should be excluded from your diet. Consuming food and drinks together also causes this.If you find coming up with the right diet difficult, you should consult with a dietitian and determine the most suitable eating plan.

Dumping Syndrome Diet

For people undergoing bariatric surgery, their dietitian sets a special diet that includes particular dietary modifications. It is extremely important not to ignore all the elements in this diet and to follow it to the letter. Dietary content is as follows;- Avoid larger meals, instead, eat five or six small meals a day. Do not overeat in one go.- Keep vegetable and meat portions as small as possible.- Eat a sufficient amount of fiber-rich food because it decreases the pace of food passage from your stomach to the small intestine.- Limit consumption of milk products to two servings each day.- Combine protein and fats with fruit or starch. For example, it is much more beneficial for you to eat fruit with cottage cheese.- Chew your food for a long time. Swallowing it quickly affects your stomach negatively.- Stop eating when you feel full. You don’t need to fill your stomach completely.- There should be at least a 45-minute interval between solid food and liquid food. Do not consume these in tandem.- It may be good for you to lie down and rest for a while after eating.- Be sure to use fiber supplements such as psyllium, methylcellulose, or benefiber.- If you absolutely must use a sugar substitute, then use sugar them.- Drink at least 8 glasses of water. You can mix your water consumption with sugar-free, caffeine-free, non-alcoholic, and non-carbonated beverages.crisis.

Dumping Syndrome Medication

Current insights prove that the probability of dumping syndrome varies depending on the type of weight loss surgery. Mini gastric bypass may cause the least complications, while gastric bypass surgery may cause the most severe ones. On average, approximately 1 out of 10 people encounter this challenge after weight loss surgery.A proficient surgeon will give you all the necessary information before and after the surgery to reduce the risks of these complications. If you take notes while listening to the doctor, you will not forget the details, and you will minimize the risk of dumping syndrome. Also, responsible surgeons pay attention to the follow-up sessions and check everything including blood pressure and glucose in patients.For the treatment or prevention of this syndrome, people are not mostly advised to use medication. The main treatment for this frequent complication is to make a permanent diet change. However, sometimes osteoid (Sandostatin) medication may be prescribed if the complaints do not improve for a long time.In addition, in some cases, anti-diarrheal drugs can be used by injection. Thus, the rapid passage of food into the intestines is prevented.If other medications and diets are not effective, somatostatin analogs are accounted as the last medical method other than surgery.

Surgery

Generally, surgery is not the first option and most patients should mostly stick to the advised diet, and if necessary use medicines.However, if you’ve tried them all but still postoperative dumping syndrome is impacting your life, your doctor might suggest surgery as the ultimate treatment.In most cases, surgery is not needed, but still, some patients have no choice but to undergo another operation.PMC Labs has introduced a new operative method for curing dumping syndrome. During an accurate analysis, patients were followed up for up to 10 years after the operation. The results showed no death with a low rate of complications. This can be counted as the most effective, yet final step in the treatment process of severe dumping syndrome.However, it is important to visit a doctor as soon as you feel any signs of dumping syndrome, otherwise, your situation will get worse to the point that an emergency surgery should be operated on you.

Preventing Dumping Syndrome (How to prevent it?)

After gastric surgery, people should consume food suitable for the new stomach and intestine. Therefore, simply by avoiding some specific food, dumping syndrome can be prevented.You must comply with the diet given by your doctor and do not receive anything other than that. Watch out for these points:- Do not ingest sugary, acidic, hot drinks should be out of your life.- Do not exceed the specified portion at each meal.- Make sure your bariatric surgeon is an expert before the operation.

Dumping Syndrome; Foods to Avoid

The food you must avoid:- All types of food and beverages containing refined sugar;- High-carbohydrate meal; and of course simple carbohydrates;- Dairy products and certain fats;- Fried food;- Fatty meats;- Syrupy foods;- Foods that have a digestive effect, such as peaches;- Drinks with extra ingredients such as milkshakes and chocolate milk.

Dumping Syndrome Risk Factors

The main cause of dumping syndrome is gastric resection. Certain actions increase the probability of dumping syndrome:- Drinking hot milk;- Overeating;- Simultaneous consumption of liquids and solids;- Ingesting processed food; the ones with fatty acids in particular;- Consumption of sugary drinks, especially acidic and refined sugar. To Sum Up Remember, healthy individuals who have once undergone bariatric surgery, we’re able to make fundamental changes in their lifestyle. To adapt to your post-surgery life, firstly make sure to choose a sufficient surgeon and dietitian, and second, listen to their advice carefully and take good care of your body and mind.

Unfortunately, some effects of obesity might stay with you for the rest of your life, even when you reach your ideal weight. After all, some changes are irreversible.

That’s why even though bariatric surgery is the ultimate solution for obese patients, still there is one big concern: what to do with excess skin after weight loss surgery?

Before going through any type of weight loss surgery, a lot of questions about excess skin prey on your mind: how much bariatric surgery causes loose skin? Why my skin becomes saggy in the very first place? Isn’t there a solution for saggy skin? Can I improve my skin elasticity after the surgery?

In addition to the physical hassles saggy skin brings about, most people don’t like to see their bodies in such form. After all, weight loss surgery is both about improving your health and the betterment of your appearance.

The first and foremost point you should bear in mind is that all people do not experience excess skin after weight loss surgery in the same ways. There are many factors that directly or indirectly affect this process.

However, the good news is that like all the other side effects of bariatric surgery, this one has many solutions as well. So, stay with us for the next few minutes to get a better overview of excess skin after surgery and the ways you can overcome this obstacle.

Why Do I Have Loose Skin After Weight Loss Surgery?

In general human skin is elastic, which is because of some proteins like collagen and elastin fibers. After gaining some weight, your skin is stretched, however, when you lose that extra weight, your skin elasticity allows it to snap back to its former shape.

But all of this process depends on the duration and the amount of excess weight. If you’re overweight for a long period of time, or the excess weight is high, these collagen and elastin fibers lose their functionality noticeably. So, when you lose that extra weight, your skin won’t gain its former shape, which means the extra body weight is gone, but instead extra skin has remained.

Even thinking about it is frustrating, isn’t it? But no worries, with some changes in your lifestyle, you can simply treat and manage extra skin after weight loss surgery. Moreover, if you find them difficult, you can always go for plastic surgery.

What Factors Affect Loose Skin After Bariatric Surgery?

Depending on your age, genetics, amount of weight loss, sun exposure, smoking, length of time being overweight, and the overall circumstances before and after weight loss surgery, you might experience loose skin differently.

How to Avoid/Reduce Loose Skin After Weight Loss Surgery

The ways that help you in the process of excess skin removal after bariatric surgery are basically divided into two groups. The fastest, most popular solution is surgery. However, you might want to know whether there is a non-surgical treatment for wrinkly loose skin after bariatric surgery or not.

First, let’s take a look at the most effective excess skin removal ways that need no surgery. Then, if you’re not satisfied, you can take a look at the different surgical options you have.

1- Stick to a Healthy Diet.

If you’ve been considering bariatric surgery for some time, you might have been overwhelmed with advice on maintaining a rich, healthy diet. But nothing is as important as what nutrition your body’s delivered.

Remember when we talked about collagen and elastin fibers that are responsible for your skin firmness and how they are damaged after a long time of being overweight?

Make sure your diet contains a sophisticated amount of proteins, collagen in particular.

Chicken, fish and shellfish, egg whites, berries, and tropical fruits are rich resources of collagen. Take a look at the list of other food containing the highest amount of collagen. Make sure to have enough of them in your everyday meals.

Do not forget vitamin C and Omega-3 fatty acids as they’re necessary for increasing skin elasticity, especially in parts that damage the most including face and abdominal skin.

2- Take Care of Your Skin.

When it comes to skincare, a lot of people are strongly resistant as they think it requires a lot of time and money. But if you’re thinking about bariatric surgery, you must have skincare as an inseparable part of your life.

You don’t have to necessarily use expensive cosmetics in order to avoid or minimize loose skin. There are many home remedies, like using aloe vera gel, that’ll help you have firmer, healthier skin. Just make sure not to underestimate the significance of daily skincare even before going through weight loss surgery.

3- Exercise Regularly.

Sticking to a regular exercise schedule improves the process of tightening both your muscles and skin. Moreover, being physically active is something you must add to your post-bariatric surgery life.

But it does not have to be a heavy schedule. You can start by taking regular walks and then go to the next level by adding swimming, dancing, yoga, or even lifting weights to your plan.

Just be careful not to be hard on yourself, otherwise, you’ll damage your body in addition to eliminating the joy of exercise. Moreover, focus more on parts like abdominal muscles where more saggy skin may occur.

4- Give Your Skin Enough Time.

In most cases, your skin gets back its firmness to some degree. However, its pace might be slower than that of your weight loss. Don’t be disappointed. You should at least give your skin 12 months as it is the average time for your body to recover.

If implied all the above-mentioned treatments, yet got no noticeable response after 12 months after the surgery, you can start to think of surgery as the final, yet a certain solution for excess skin.

5- Cosmetic Surgery

If you don’t want to undergo another operation after bariatric surgery, that’s totally fine. However, some people do not get the satisfactory outcome of nonsurgical treatments.

Cosmetic plastic surgery has proven to be the fastest, most practical solution for bariatric patients who suffer from any type of post-surgery skin breakdown. Known as body contouring procedures, these types of plastic surgery are performed after weight-loss operations on specific body parts including the abdomen, chest area, upper arms, thighs, and face. The surgery includes one of the following procedures:

• Lower body lift (circumferential body lift)
  • Panniculectomy
  • Thigh & buttock lift
• Upper body lift procedures
  • Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck)
  • Panniculectomy (skin removal surgery)

Other medical solutions:

• VelaShape (makes skin more flexible using infrared, suction, and radiofrequency)
• ThermiTight (shrinks the tissues under the skin using radiofrequency)

 A Word to the Wise

Do not postpone bariatric surgery in fear of saggy, excess skin caused by fast weight loss. Remember, the younger you are, the better your chances are that your skin will get back to its pre-obesity days.

Make up your mind and take action today. Rest assured that the problems regarding loose skin after weight loss surgery can be solved much easier than the troubles obesity will get you into.

Our world is moving toward an overall higher body mass. Technological progress provided us with chances of more jobs that just require sitting and thinking while minimizing the amount of time we have for physical activities.

The food industry advertises its unhealthy, easy-to-prepare products as people prefer to spend less time on cooking, and more time on working.

Parks are getting destroyed in order to have more space for our massive highways and malls.

The above-mentioned causes alongside many other factors, hand in hand are directing us to more obese populations.

According to WHO, there were more than 1.9 overweight people in the world in 2016. This number is only for 18-year-old and more people. So, the other 340 million obese people were excluded from this number.

Obesity severely affects people’s quality of life while most solutions for this intense problem are irreversible and in most cases not even that effective. However, science has come to our rescue one more time and surgical procedures, also known by the name weight loss or bariatric procedures have proven to be the ultimate solution for obesity.

As obesity creates many more problems that affect short and long-term mortality, it is important for the surgical patient to make sure the solution they’re choosing for their problem notably reduces the risk for mortality.

Just like all the other medical methods, bariatric procedure is not pure from side effects. But what are these risks? To be more accurate, does this surgical procedure increase or decrease the risk of death? How? These are the questions you must find clear-cut answers to while considering weight loss surgery or any other solution.

This blog post is the result of studying the most credible researches alongside collecting the experience of the most accredited experts.

Obesity Death Rate vs. Bariatric Surgery Mortality Rate

Obesity, morbid obesity, in particular, is not just about not being able to wear any clothes you like or not feeling good enough about your appearance.

It causes some serious problems, including respiratory conditions, most of which not only put overweight people in great danger but decrease their life expectancy to a high extent.

Using the data-driven by previous studies, here’s a statistical analysis of the problems caused by bariatric surgery and obesity and the mortality rates of obese patients before and after the operation.

According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), during a current study researchers examined the gastric bypass operation mortality rate of super-obese patients who had undergone surgery.

Following 10-year data, the results showed a 48% decline in death because of obesity and other diseases associated with being overweight and that these health benefits increase with time.

Another original observational study detected the effects of bariatric surgery in mortality on 4047 Swedish obese subjects that included both gastric bypass patients who underwent weight-loss surgery and nonsurgical controls, also called the controlled group, who received not nonsurgical treatment of obesity.

Here’s a chart review of the maximum weight loss bariatric surgery patients experienced:

	1-2 Years After the Surgery	10 Years After the Surgery
Gastric Bypass	32%	25%
Vertical-Banded Gastroplasty	25%	16%
Banding	20%	14%

Calculating the number of obese patients in the controlled group and the surgery group in addition to the data regarding the weight loss results and fatality rate, the researchers found out that the patients who accepted the surgery faced more long-term weight loss in addition to decreased mortality rate.

The reason for this noticeable long-term survival after the bariatric operations is pretty clear. According to Science Daily, overweight people, the ones with severe obesity, in particular, have higher chances of getting diabetes, different types of cancer, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and etc.

These serious problems put them at greater risk of premature death to a high extent, about 50 to 100 percent more than people with BMI less than 30.

Short-Term Death Rates After Bariatric Surgery

One of the most significant factors to obese patients who are considering sleeve gastrectomy, bypass bariatric surgery, or other types of weight-loss operations, is to gather trustworthy information on the death rate after bariatric surgery in the short run.

A report published by the US National Institute of Health reveals the results of a study analyzing a follow-up period of 30 days and mortality rate during this time.

Of the 6118 patients included in the research, 18 people died, 16 of whom had Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) and only 2 had gastric sleeve.

As gastric bypass mortality rate was about 0.3%, the probability of short-term death after this weight-loss surgery is so little.

Sleeve gastrectomy death rate is even less and close to 0 based on this study.

Most of the other studies observing the short-term fatality rate after bariatric surgery confirm this result as well.

Blood clots, internal hernia, nausea are some other complications that occur after bariatric surgery but do not result in death.

Long-Term Death Rates After Bariatric Surgery Procedures

But what about the long-term mortality rate? After all, bariatric surgery affects the patients for a lifetime. So, does it decrease this lifetime in the long run?

Let’s take a look at a study that included a 10-year follow-up of 4344 Brazilian bariatric surgery patients from January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2010.

The total death rate, regardless of the relativity of the death to weight-loss surgery or not, was 1.9%. The 10-year mortality rate was 3.34%, only 1% of this number was due to causes related to surgery.

If this result is not enough for your research, you can take a look at one of the longest studies that examined bariatric patients; this is a 23-year study that explores the mortality and rate in patients undergoing bariatric surgery.

This study, done and published by BMC, shows even more extended results than their previous study that observed patients for 17 years after the operation.

Based on its results, surgical treatments eliminate the fatal effects of obesity. In addition, its preventive effects remain for a long time, even 23 years after the surgery.

What Factors Affect Weight Loss Surgery Fatality Rate? How to Reduce Them?

It is clear for most people why severe obesity kills: type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney, liver, and heart disease, cancer, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, and so on and so forth.

But a lot of people might not know factors for mortality after bariatric surgery as they’re not so many and not very probable.

However, it is necessary for obese patients to be aware of them and any probable methods that could help reduce these factors.

Severity of Obesity

Studies that evaluated mortality risk after weight loss surgery among super obese patients mostly found higher BMIs riskier, especially in super-obese patients with BMI higher than 70.

Even though bariatric surgery is more responsive for more obese patients, their high BMI increases the risk of death as well.

So, this is exactly why losing weight before the surgery is of high importance. The more you reduce your BMI, the higher your survival rate will be.

Types of Bariatric Surgery

There is not only one single type of weight-loss surgery, which makes making the right choice even more challenging for patients.

Two of the most popular bariatric procedures are gastric sleeve and gastric bypass surgery. Even though the ultimate goal of both of them is fast, sustained weight loss, they’re different in their procedures and other areas as well. Therefore, you must have enough information about both of them in order to be able to compare gastric sleeve and gastric bypass procedures.

One of the risk factors that require indispensable analysis is their surgical mortality rate.

Researches that delve into the safety of gastric sleeve and gastric bypass surgery, have estimated an 0.8% probability as the 30-day mortality rate of gastric sleeve and 0.14 for gastric bypass.

So, if you’ve thoroughly analyzed both of these procedures and still find gastric sleeve right for your situation, just go with it as it is in most cases the safer one.

Cardiovascular Causes

Cardiovascular causes are one of the most frequent reasons for mortality among bariatric patients.

The American Heart Association‘s guidelines suggest some necessary pre-surgery actions, including chest X-rays.

If you have morbid obesity and after consultation and check-ups, your doctor still recognizes you as a high-risk patient, you can always think about ways of non-surgical effective treatment for obesity.

Also, if they suggest that you postpone the time of surgery so that you can be more prepared and less of a risky patient, just put your trust in this plan and stick to it.

Regular Follow-ups, a Practical Solution to Reduce Post-Surgery Risks

A number of complications after bariatric surgery are solvable in case of regular follow-ups after the surgery. These risks include hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and psychological problems like depression and suicidal thoughts.

Before the surgery make sure whether it is possible to have sufficient follow-ups of both your physical and mental situation in the clinic or any institution you are going to have the surgery at.

Surgical procedures better be performed in institutions with adequate follow-ups of superobese patients’ overall circumstances in addition to the best practices in bariatric surgery.

Bariatric Surgery Is Becoming Safer

According to a study that looked into the rates and causes of death after bariatric surgery among Pennsylvania residents from 1995 to 2004, the death rate in the follow-up decreased from 13% in 1995 to 7% in 2004. And the number might be even less right now.

The trends and progress of weight loss surgery, in addition to the enhanced expertise of surgeons, caused improvement in the safety of bariatric procedures.

So, when choosing your surgeon, be careful to choose a proficient one.

A Word to the Wise

The more accurate your pre-surgery tests are, the more aware your surgeon will be of your physical and mental conditions, hence helping you even better. So, please do not resist these tests and take them patiently.

If you’re told that you have to lose some weight before the surgery, take your time and listen to your doctor’s advice/

Also, educate yourself and your family about the surgery. Nothing can put you in danger more than lack of knowledge.

Finally, start your healthy lifestyle even before the operation. Work on your mind and your body. The more prepared you are, the better the results will be.

Laparoscopic bariatric surgery creates small incisions in the patient’s abdomen. Having the surgery with this method means your surgeon inserts the devices into the stomach through these small incisions. After the surgery, mini-surgical scars remain in certain parts of the people. Still, some people don’t like gastric sleeve scars and want them to fade away as soon as possible. In this article, I’ll talk about scars caused by the gastric sleeve and gastric band procedures, how to reduce them, how long does it take for them to disappear, and tips that’ll help your skin recover faster.

While scars after bariatric surgery are evident in the first months after surgery, they heal over time and what will be left of them is just some unclear spots. It is possible to minimize these scars with enough attention and proper treatments so that your skin recovery process escalates.

Gastric Sleeve Scars

During sleeve gastrectomy, your bariatric surgeon creates one to five incisions in the abdomen area in order to perform the procedure. The number of incisions will vary depending on the method your doctor prefers. The procedure is performed through the opened incisions.

Gastric sleeve scars are generally found in the abdomen because the area specified for sleeve gastrectomy is around the belly button of the abdomen.

Gastric sleeve surgery is performed laparoscopically. The procedure is performed in the area closest to the stomach, between the chest and the belly button. The exact location of the scars creates an elliptical appearance that starts from the navel.

Stomach Band Surgery Scars

When a gastric band procedure is done laparoscopically, patients have to deal with smaller wounds in comparison with other methods of obesity surgery. The incisions created for this surgery are as big as the keyhole and are created with special technology. If these wounds are closed and healed, there is almost no scar.

Fading Gastric SleeveScars

You can protect your skin and minimize the appearance of obesity surgery scars following some tips:

• Do not scratch your wounds, do not remove the crust and never interfere with your wound from the outside. Your skin will renew itself.
• Clean your wound regularly and keep it dry.
• Drink plenty of water so that your skin does not dry out.
• Always use a strong sunscreen for your wounds when you go out.
• Moisturize your wounds daily. Thus, your skin will be in a soft and flexible form.
• Smoking will affect your healing process. For this reason, you should definitely stay away from tobacco and tobacco products.
• You should avoid scar remover lotions. The content of these products are not suitable for the renewal process. On the contrary, it can negatively affect your wound.

Gastric Bypass Scars

Gastric bypass surgery is one of the types of weight-loss surgery that is performed with the laparoscopic method. For this reason, like every other weight loss surgery, gastric bypass leaves small scars after bariatric surgery.

Gastric Bypass Incisions(Incision) / Where is the incision made?

During gastric bypass procedure, again incisions are made in the area closest to the stomach, between the belly button and the chest. An average of 5 incisions will be made so that all devices can easily enter and the procedure is completed. The sizes of these incisions vary between 8 mm and 3 mm.

How Long Does It Take for the Wounds to Heal After Bariatric Surgery?

These wounds begin to heal within a few months. The significant point is how bariatric surgery patients take care of their wounds after the operation. Moistening and cleaning the wounds and not constantly touching the wounds accelerate this process. 

After your wounds start to heal, the scars of your wounds will start to disappear. Scars after bariatric surgery are seen more clearly in the first months. However, within the first and second years after the operation, your scars will gradually become invisible.

Healing Scars After Bariatric Surgery

After the complete healing of your wounds, you can use moisturizers to make the scars disappear faster. Using daily moisturizers is the first step to fresh your skin. You can apply supplements by using collagen-containing creams. Also, each individual’s skin reacts in a different way to scars. Some people’s DNA is in a way that their scars fade away with no special treatment. If you’re like this, you’ve got nothing to worry about. However, if you find the scars annoying and the disappearing process too long, laser treatments help a lot.

Healing Tips from a Patient’s Perspective

I’ve asked some of my patients to share their experiences with gastric sleeve scars and added their stories to this section. This can be a good guide for you.

• Trust the time as it really helps your skin heal. After a year or two, you will realize how much of your scars have gone.
• Don’t waste excessive money on medicals or cosmetics. Even with long-term use, I did not notice a serious difference. My effort and money was wasted. Instead, I kept my skin moisturized by using certain herbal nourishing oil blends.
• Smoking is a huge mistake. Your doctor will ask you to stop smoking before the surgery. Don’t go back and get rid of this harmful addiction because it severely damages both your skin and your stomach.
• Be sure to follow your doctor’s recommendations and consult your doctor about everything. Opt for supervised treatments over random product use. My doctor suggested sesame oil and I really got positive results. They’re not as clear as a scratch and you can barely notice them.
• My scar is obvious like a nail tip, but it doesn’t matter. What matters is that I’m healthy, I look beautiful and a small scar will not undermine my beauty. I was obese for many years, but now I’m fit and healthy.

Sleep apnea occurs when a person stops breathing for a short time while sleeping. Although it is not directly life-threatening, it negatively affects people’s daily lives because a person’s productivity depends on the quality and quantity of sleep they get throughout the night. Obese and overweight individuals might experience this condition more, which brings about questions about the relationship between obesity and sleep apnea.

What is Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is the partial or complete cessation of upper respiration for 10 seconds or more during sleep. This slowing or stopping of breathing recurs at intervals throughout the person’s sleep and causes the sleep to be fragmented.

People with sleep apnea have low blood oxygen levels due to insufficient breathing. The results are usually headaches, fatigue, and daytime sleepiness. Also, these people usually have a snoring problem.

Sleep apnea has two types:

1- Obstructive sleep apnea: During sleep, the throat or upper airway narrows or closes. It is the most common type of sleep apnea.

2- Central sleep apnea: This type is rare but it causes brain malfunction and respiratory muscles.

Causes of Sleep Apnea

There are many different causes of sleep apnea. It is possible to encounter this health issue due to genetic factors. Other possible factors are:

• Aging
• Smoking and drinking
• Sleeping pills and tranquilizers
• Anomalies in the development of the upper jaw and lower jaw
• Diabetes
• Previous neurological diseases;
• High blood pressure
• Obesity

One of the most triggering reasons for sleep apnea is obesity. Especially when the neck circumference of the person starts to become oily and thicker than necessary, it poses a threat to breathing while sleeping. Other diseases related to obesity also trigger a person to have sleep apnea.

Does Obesity Cause Sleep Apnea?

Obesity is a weight problem disease that is indicated when people with a BMI score of higher than 35. Typical symptoms of this disease include an oversized and fatty body, joint pain, and diabetes. If untreated, the person continues to have eating habits, and the rate of weight gain increases. In this case, people’s movements are restricted and their vital values ​​are at risk.

Does obesity cause sleep apnea? Yes, it is normal for people to have breathing problems because their body is bigger than they should be. Especially when lying down (such as sleeping), the airways are blocked which causes sleep apnea.

Why Does Obesity Cause Sleep Apnea?

Obesity is the most important cause of sleep apnea because:

• The excess body weight puts pressure on the airway. Fat deposits in the person’s body begin to collapse and neuromuscular control decreases. Precipitated fat deposits reduce the volume of the lung and respiratory arrest occurs.
• It triggers sleep apnea because the neck, waist and waist-hip measurements of obese people are bigger than normal.

Is Sleep Apenea Resolved When You Lose Weight?

If you have obesity and the main reason for your sleep apnea is your excess weight, weight loss will be the treatment for you. Getting rid of your extra weight lightens your body thus enhancing your health. But you can’t be definitely sure without examination. However, if you have a problem with sleep apnea and obesity, I strongly recommend you to lose some weight. If you cannot lose weight with diet, please call to talk to our bariatric surgery team.

Note: If you do not have excess weight, your sleep apnea may be caused by different conditions. This is why you should consult a neurologist or otolaryngologist before making any decisions.

Is Bariatric Surgery a Treatment for Obesity?

Bariatric surgery or weight-loss surgery is one of the effective methods to cure obesity for individuals who tested diets and exercise but could not lose enough weight. The main purpose of these procedures is to enable patients to lose weight quickly and remove diseases related to excess weight, including sleep apnea. Therefore, when the person gets rid of the extra weight, breathing will be easier and back to normal.

Sleep Apnea Test And Success Rate

A test is used to diagnose sleep apnea in people. The test includes a nighttime sleep assessment called a polysomnogram (PSG). The procedure, which must be performed by a specialist, is completed in a sleep laboratory.

During the test, brain activity, eye movements, muscle activity, breathing patterns, airflow, heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and similar body functions are recorded during sleep of the person with sleep apnea symptoms. Then, the number of times the person experiences respiratory distress during sleep and the level of sleep apnea will be determined.

In this evaluation, your doctor reachers definite conclusions by considering all the conditions.

If you suffer from sleep apnea due to obesity, if you have been suggested to lose weight and you are unable to do so, stomach reduction surgery (tube stomach, gastric balloon, gastric bypass, gastric band) can solve the problem. Please contact us, we will determine the right type of surgery for you and overcome your health problems together.