Obesity Surgery
Sleeve gastrectomy is among the most preferred methods to lose weight and have a healthy body. Although sleeve gastrectomy has different approaches within themselves, these operations are grouped under the title of obesity surgery.
What is Obesity Surgery?
Obesity surgery includes a series of operations performed with the closed surgery method and focused on the stomach shrinkage operation. Sleeve gastrectomy is performed by reaching the inside of the abdomen through holes at the millimeter level without the need for a large incision. Obesity surgery is a set of procedures that do not take time. A patient who has undergone a sleeve gastrectomy operation can stand up the same day after the operation. It is kept under observation for a few days to ensure the healthy progress of the patient. The patient is discharged afterwards and can return to its social life within a period of 1 week. The absence of a large incision in obesity surgery allows the person to have a pain-free operation. Aesthetically, it is often preferred because there is no incision deformation.
Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Risks
The nature of surgical operations always brings risks. Regardless of the surgery area, it has more or less certain levels of risk. With this information, it should not be forgotten that obesity and metabolic surgery also involve risks and should be performed by experts in the field. The 3 main risk factors that can be encountered in obesity surgery are as follows;
Bleeding: One of the most important issues in surgeries is to be careful about organs that bleed rapidly. The stomach and intestines are also organs in this category. Likewise, the liver and spleen, which are located in the immediate vicinity, are also organs in this category. Bleeding can be seen in these listed organs both during and after the operation. Most of the possible bleedings stop on their own. It is rarely seen that the bleeding continues, and in such cases, the person is operated again and intervened.
Venous Thromboembolism: This risk factor mainly occurs due to inactivity. The sedentary process during and after the surgery causes the blood flow in the leg veins to slow down. This poses a risk for embolus formation. With the right precautions and the walking of the patient after the surgery, this risk factor is simply avoided.
Leakage: Small openings may occur if the cut and sutured areas do not show the necessary healing in obesity surgeries. This leads to fluid leaks. There is a risk of leakage in all operations performed on the digestive system, including obesity and metabolic surgery. Fever should be followed closely in the first two weeks after surgery. It is an important early diagnosis predictor. Possible leaks are eliminated with endoscopic access or revision surgeries. The risk of leakage in obesity surgery is at the level of 1%.
Exercise After Obesity Surgery
As sleeve gastrectomy surgery and gastric bypass surgery are not performed with large incisions, there is a very fast recovery process. After a few days of observation, the person can return to its social life. The exercise process should be increased gradually. It starts with simple walking exercises at first. While weight loss continues effectively, the tempo and variety of exercise is increased.
The advantages of regular exercise after sleeve gastrectomy surgery can be listed as follows;
- It supports the weight loss process.
- It accelerates metabolism and provides rapid burning.
- It contributes to increasing and maintaining muscle volume.
- It supports the health of joints damaged by weight and the protection of bone structure.
- It reduces the risk of possible cardiovascular disease.
Things to consider after obesity surgery;
- Gradually increase the sports rhythm.
- Avoid overstraining the body.
- Establish routines that you can fit into regularly.
- Activate all muscle groups in the body instead of working a single muscle mass.
- In order to ensure the continuity of the exercises, focus on the activities you enjoy while doing them.
- Take your short-distance journeys on foot.
- Drink plenty of water. Do not exercise after eating. Avoid exercising with a full stomach.
Pregnancy After Obesity Surgery
Obesity has negative effects on reproduction as it causes many diseases. In the light of the data obtained, it is seen that the problems that cause negative effects on ovulation begin to decrease after sleeve gastrectomy surgeries. The problems experienced by overweight women in having children can be eliminated. It helps get pregnant, pregnancy and postpartum processes progress in a much healthier way.
In addition to the above-mentioned improvements, pregnancy should definitely be avoided within 1 year following sleeve gastrectomy surgery. For a healthy pregnancy, a period of 12 to 18 months must pass after the surgery. The adaptation period after the surgery and the low vitamin and mineral values to be experienced from time to time prevent the baby from developing in a healthy way.
The Importance of Protein After Obesity Surgery
Mandatory portion reductions after sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass surgery may prevent the person from getting enough protein. Intake of protein below the need both leads to delayed healing of wounds and harms the basic functions of the body. According to the statement made by the World Health Organization, the human body should receive protein in the range of 0.8 grams to 1 gram per kilogram. In case of not getting enough protein in the meals, additional protein foods can be taken. The selection of supplemental proteins should be done together with a specialist. The intake of protein from natural foods should be prioritized.
Hair Loss After Obesity Surgery
Hair loss is among the side effects seen after obesity surgeries. One of the most important reasons is not taking enough protein, vitamins and minerals after the surgery. Losing weight quickly can cause an increase in hair loss. Along with the rapid weight loss seen in the early stages of sleeve gastrectomy surgery, hair loss also shows a similar trend. While hair loss is much more in the initial period of rapid weight loss, hair loss comes to a halt after the 8th month. It is a situation that occurs in the natural flow of the process. In order to prevent or minimize hair loss, it is necessary to pay attention to zinc, B12, iron and protein intake. With regular blood tests, deficient foods should be detected and a diet should be planned accordingly.
Vitamin Use After Obesity Surgery
Gastric sleeve surgery is a much safer obesity surgery than gastric bypass surgery. As there are absorption problems after gastric bypass surgery, vitamins and minerals should be taken for life as an additional support. However, there is no absorption problem after gastric sleeve surgery. However, the portions are also smaller due to the shrinking of the stomach. As a result, it is possible that some vitamins and minerals are taken insufficiently. Values should be followed up with frequent blood tests in the postoperative period. There are many cases where calcium, B12, iron, vitamin D, folic acid and vitamin B1 are deficient.
Considering the decreasing values as a result of blood tests, the relevant vitamins should be taken additionally. In short, while the first 12 months are especially important for patients who had gastric sleeve surgery, lifelong vitamin use is required for patients who had gastric bypass surgery.
Why is Obesity Revision Surgery Performed?
Revision surgeries, which have an important place in obesity surgery, can be performed for many different reasons. Failure in the operation, inability to lose weight at the desired level, excessive reflux problem and other health problems are among the main causes. Patients who had gastric sleeve surgery can have gastric bypass surgery together with revision surgery if they wish. Starting to gain weight again is also common cause for among obesity revision surgery.
People Who Had Obesity Revision Surgery
Obesity revision surgery is performed to meet different needs. The groups of people experiencing these needs can be listed as follows;
- People who cannot lose weight at the targeted rate or start to gain weight again,
- People who have spent a minimum of 2 years after the first surgery (People with any operation problems can be taken to revision surgery without waiting. This period is valid in cases where everything goes well but the person cannot lose weight.)
- People who had problems in the operation (leakage problems, bleeding, etc.)
It is very important and healthy to reach to the targeted weight without the need for obesity revision surgery. In this respect, it is necessary not to gain weight again without making the same mistakes. Although gastric sleeve surgeries are low-risk surgeries, every surgery has similar risks in medicine and every doctor wants to keep the surgical practices to a minimum.
Types of Obesity Surgeries and Revision Surgeries
When the types of revision surgeries are examined, the most common situation is revision surgeries required after unsuccessful weight loss. Negative conditions experienced during the first operation may also necessitate revision surgeries. The process that started with gastric sleeve surgery can be transformed into gastric bypass with revision surgery. If the person who has undergone gastric sleeve surgery cannot reach the desired weight, he or she may have a second gastric sleeve surgery. Revision surgeries can be performed due to health problems such as different leaks and leakages.
Obesity surgery requires a high level of expertise. It is always a priority to achieve success with a single surgery in reaching the healthy weight of the person. If the individual’s determination comes together with the expert team and equipment with a high level of competence, obesity surgery gives a highly successful result.
