These problems can persist for years after the procedure.
This article will help you understand what to expect 10 years after gastric sleeve surgery, also known assleevegastrectomy.
It also discusses ways to prevent complications, as well as when to reach out to your healthcare provider.
Verywell / Laura Porter
This surgery involves removal of about 80% of thestomach.
Many complications occur because of greatly reduced stomach capacity.
Weight regain after gastric sleeve surgery happens for various reasons.
It’s still possible to eat too much after gastric sleeve surgery.
If you do, you may not lose much weight.
This procedure may not help with long-term health conditions and you may experience complications.
These can occur within days to months following surgery.
Some of these complications and side effects may improve as you recover.
However, it is possible for a gastric sleeve to cause problems that persist even years after the surgery.
It could also be because of changes in the way food moves through the digestive tract.
It’s not clear why some individuals have nausea after this surgery.
It might be partly because food stays in your stomach longer.Nausea medications may be helpful.
Undigested nutrients in your small intestine may also cause diarrhea.
Diarrhea can cause dehydration or malnutrition.
It can show up within months after the procedure.
Apanniculectomyis a surgery to remove excess skin.
This tends to occur within six weeks after surgery.
A surgeon can fix this problem by “stretching” the narrow spot.
Long-Term Gastric Sleeve Complications
Gastric sleeve surgery can cause mild to severe long-term complications.
These can show up within months or years post-surgery.
How Many Years Does a Gastric Sleeve Last?
Gastric sleeve is a permanent procedure.
It lasts for the rest of your life and can’t be reversed.
Weight Regain
Weight gain usually starts in the third year after surgery.
Individuals who don’t change their habits may gain back some or all of the weight they previously lost.
Over time, the pouch stretches.
If you eat larger meals, weight loss may stop.
This can happen if the stomach pouch is too large or you don’t follow post-surgery instructions.
Research indicates that around 20% to 35% of individuals experience a long-term failure rate.
Failure rate is defined as abody mass indexof greater than 35 within 18 to 24 months post-surgery.
Your healthcare provider may suggestvitaminsand minerals, medication, or other things to help you stay healthy.
Symptoms include:
Acid-reducing medicationcan help improve GERD symptoms.
These tend to appear within 18 months following the procedure.
Because of this, individuals sometimes need acholecystectomy, which is a surgery that removes the gallbladder.
Abdominal Adhesions (Scarring)
The tissues of the abdomen are slippery.
This helps them slide past each other when you move.
It may be annoying or even painful.Sometimes, this scarring can block your small bowel.
Incisional Hernia
Aherniaforms when an organ pushes through a weak spot in tissue or muscle.
A hernia can occur after any surgery.
Withlaparoscopicor minimally invasive surgeries, which are typically performed for gastric sleeve, it is less common.
Still, a hernia may develop months or years later.
A hernia looks like a bulge at the site of your incision.
Rare Gastric Sleeve Complications
Rare gastric sleeve complications can occur within weeks to years after the procedure.
What Is the Risk of Death From Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
Abscess
Anabscessis a pocket-like collection of pus that forms in your body.
When this happens, it is usually just after surgery.
Sometimes, though, the suture area will start leaking months or even years later.
Delayed leaks are rare but still dangerous.
They may require medications, hospitalization, or additional surgery.
Addiction Transfer
For some people,food is an addiction.
They may self-medicate by eating too much.
Because this surgery makes it impossible to overeat, individuals may form new addictions.
Weight loss can be hard on couples and the surgery may change the dynamics of the relationship.
This can put stress on each individual, as well as the couple collectively.
Healthcare providers recommend talking about these issues with your partner.Couples counseling can help, too.
Before Surgery
Prior to surgery, some measures are often recommended to reduce gastric sleeve risks.
It is important to carefully monitor what and how much you eat after any punch in of bariatric surgery.
Be sure to follow the specific instructions given to you by your healthcare provider.
However, gastric sleeve surgery may cause medical complications that can last a long time after surgery.
Mental health concerns may also occur.
Your healthcare provider can explain the risks and complications and suggest other treatments if appropriate.
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