Gastric sleeve recovery time will vary from person to person.  This is due to a host of factors that can have an impact on how an individual responds to this procedure and how rapidly he or she will be able to heal.  More importantly, each patient will have specific needs that must be addressed in both short and long-term post-surgical plans.  Following are several of the major factors that serve to determine an individual’s level of post-surgery success.

Present Health Condition

• People who are obese are prone to numerous health conditions including diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and more.  Because obesity is the primary reason for opting for gastric sleeve surgery, often even the most ideal candidates for this procedure are facing some form of health risk, whether major or minor in proportions.  The medical team of any candidate for this procedure will perform a comprehensive health assessment to determine whether it will be safe for the individual to undergo surgery.  Only those who are assessed as being stable enough to handle the dramatic physiological changes that the procedure will entail are approved.  Nevertheless, any existing health conditions, ranging from acid reflux to high blood pressure and beyond, will affect the way in which the patient is able to heal and the measure of side effects that he or she is likely to experience.

Dietary Restrictions

• One of the major factors affecting gastric sleeve recovery time is the patient’s willingness and ability to implement the new eating plan.  With gastric sleeve surgery the stomach capacity is reduced to being able to hold no more than three ounces of food at once.  Thus, food consumption levels must drop substantially and immediately after normal eating has been resumed.  Additionally, because the stomach is the size of a walnut, patients must limit their intake of beverages and should not consume these while eating.

Smoking Cessation

• Before undergoing any surgical procedure it is always recommended that smokers enter a smoking cessation program.  Smoking can have a significant impact on the body’s ability to heal itself.  It can also affect how an individual responds to surgery and whether or not any additional health issues might arise.  Many reputable surgeons will not perform a gastric sleeve surgery on patients who have not curbed their smoking habits prior to their surgery dates.  It is often assumed that those who are unable to alter this life habit, will be unable to implement the necessary dietary changes as well.

There are numerous factors that will impact an individual’s gastric sleeve recovery time.  These include the patient’s current level of health at the time of surgery, his or her willingness to implement proper eating habits following the procedure and the ability to eliminate unhealthy life habits such as smoking.  Patients who are properly prepared for this process will ultimately enjoy the greatest measures of post-surgical weight loss and health.