Pre-Op Gastric Sleeve Diet

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Medically reviewed by Prof Rishi Singhal MBBS, MRCS, FRCS, MD.
All content on this page is reviewed by a multi-disciplinary team lead by Prof Rishi Singhal.
  • Last Reviewed 20/10/2023

Why Do I Need to Diet  |  Is The Diet Optional  |  How Long Do I Need To Diet

What is the gastric sleeve pre-op diet?

The pre-op diet before gastric sleeve surgery is vital for reducing liver fat, minimizing surgery risks, and instilling lifelong weight control habits. It’s mandatory; failure to follow it may lead to surgery cancellation. The duration varies based on BMI: 1-4 weeks depending on your BMI category.

The pre-op diet is an important step to ensure the success of gastric sleeve surgery. It helps reduce fatty deposits around the liver so that access to the stomach during surgery is easier and less risky. It also reduces the risk of medical complications associated with obesity, while giving patients an opportunity to develop habits for lifelong weight control and build confidence in their ability to set and achieve goals.

Generally speaking, the pre-op diet should start three weeks prior to a gastric sleeve procedure. This gives people time to adjust their eating habits, lower their body fat percentage, and get used to eating smaller meals more frequently throughout the day. Eating nutritious foods like fruits and vegetables is highly recommended as it provides essential vitamins and minerals needed by our bodies for healthy functioning. High protein options are also beneficial for keeping appetite under control as well as helping with muscle health. Drinking plenty of water keeps people hydrated and can help reduce feelings of hunger, making it easier to stick to a lower-calorie diet that works best for weight loss prior to surgery.

Is The Diet Optional?

The diet is compulsory. This means it is extremely important you follow it. If the diet is not followed the surgeon may refuse to operate on you. A large liver may cause the surgeon to abandon the operation. Do not be tempted to have a large meal the day before surgery as this will reduce the liver-reducing effects of the diet.

How long should you follow the diet for?

  1. It can vary depending on your BMI. If this applies to you we will normally apply the following scale.

    • If your BMI is 32-40 follow the pre-op diet for 1 week
    • If your BMI is 40-50 follow the diet for 2 weeks
    • If your BMI is 50-60 follow the diet for 3 weeks
    • If your BMI>60 follow the diet for 4 weeks

Read More About the Gastric Sleeve

Gastric Sleeve Diet – Week 5

This is really the start of learning how to work with your gastric sleeve developing lifelong healthy eating habits to achieve your health and fitness goals. You must leave soft, sloppy food in the past and discover solid textured foods to help you feel satisfied for longer.
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Gastric Sleeve Diet – Weeks 1 and 2

A liquid diet should be consumed for the first 2 weeks following your gastric sleeve operation. This is to allow time for your body to heal and recover. If you move onto foods too quickly it can put pressure on the staple lines which could cause them to rupture.

Tips To Succeed With Your Gastric Sleeve

If you want to make the most of your weight loss journey with the gastric sleeve, follow our top thirteen weight loss tips. It’s not just enough to have a gastric sleeve and expect to see results without changing your lifestyle.

Gastric Sleeve Recovery Time

The Gastric sleeve is a significant weight loss surgery that requires a substantial recovery period. It is essential to plan for an extended period of rest and ensure you have a strong support system in place during your recuperation.

Gastric Sleeve – After The Operation

Take good care of yourself after your surgery. It’s essential you look after your wounds, listen to your body and understand what symptoms you may be experiencing.

Gastric Sleeve Diet – Week 3 and 4

The stomach tissues are still healing 2 weeks after your gastric sleeve operation. It remains important not to stretch the sleeve with foods that are hard or indigestible. You should begin to make the transition from liquids to puréed foods at the start of week 3.

Gastric Sleeve Vitamins & Supplements

Vitamins and minerals are vital for appetite regulation, fat storage and metabolic rate so are important for good health, weight loss and long-term weight maintenance. After weight loss surgery, portion sizes are smaller, some food groups may not be tolerated and there may..

Gastric Sleeve Diet

There are two types of bariatric surgery diets, a pre-operation liver reduction diet that reduces any risk of complications during the surgery and a post-operation diet. This article explains how to safely reintroduce food following gastric sleeve procedure.

Liver Reduction Diet

A liver shrinkage diet (LRD) is a low-energy diet specifically designed to help people requiring bariatric surgery reduce the size of their liver to make it easier for surgeons to perform keyhole surgery.

Gastric sleeve surgery in detail

Getting used to your gastric sleeve surgery can be very daunting and you might be quite worried about any new sensations or feelings you are experiencing. We’ve listed some common symptoms and problems below
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Side Effects Of The Gastric Sleeve

Getting used to your gastric sleeve surgery can be very daunting and you might be quite worried about any new sensations or feelings you are experiencing. We’ve listed some common symptoms and problems below.
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Risks of gastric sleeve surgery explained

All patients must understand that these risks are unpredictable. Although we will take all reasonable steps to eradicate the risk of surgical complications, no matter how good the clinical team complications will occur from time to time.
Gastric Sleeve Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery

Gastric Sleeve

The gastric sleeve (laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy) is the world’s fastest-growing weight loss procedure. It has grown rapidly in popularity in recent years and now accounts for more procedures in the NHS than gastric band or gastric bypass surgery.
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Gastric Sleeve – Aftercare Package

The importance of great aftercare is often underestimated when it comes to gastric sleeve. Most patients enjoy excellent weight loss in the first year or two but some weight regain is quite common after a few years.
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Gastric Sleeve FAQs

If your gastric sleeve question isn’t answered below, fill in the form on this page with your question and we’ll answer it.

Gastric Sleeve Cost and Finance

The Healthier Weight gastric sleeve package provides weight results and low complication rates that are in line with the best centres anywhere in the world.
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