Most people who try to lose a substantial amount of weight through diet and exercise alone find that they are fighting an uphill battle that they have little chance of winning. Research has shown that many of these people have less than a 1% chance of achieving their goals without medical intervention.
As many as 150,000 people choose to undergo gastric sleeve surgery every year to help them lose weight and improve their health. The surgery itself is just a tool to help them control their portions and curb their hunger, and the real weight loss power will come from making permanent lifestyle changes, including the foods they eat and the ones they avoid. The details may vary, but most surgeons usually require gastric sleeve patients to follow at least a 2-week pre-op gastric sleeve diet in preparation for their procedure.
Today we are going to answer some questions about the gastric sleeve pre-op diet process and give you an idea of what a typical gastric sleeve pre-op diet meal plan looks like.
Does Everyone Follow The Same Gastric Sleeve Pre-Op Diet Meal Plan?
Normally, each doctor has their own guidelines that patients need to follow before having surgery. Your surgeon may require you to make significant changes to your eating habits to prepare for your weight loss procedure to ensure you get the best possible results and your recovery is smooth. The specifics of the diet can vary from person to person, depending on the type of gastric sleeve surgery being performed and the current state of their health.
What Is The Purpose Of A Gastric Sleeve Pre-Op Diet?
It may seem surprising that you need to follow a diet before your weight loss surgery, but there are important reasons for it. The gastric sleeve pre-op diet is designed to keep you safe during the procedure. The first part of this diet is done to shrink the size of the liver, making the surgery easier for the surgeon to perform, and the second part is to lower the risk of aspiration, which happens when food from the stomach moves into the lungs.
Your liver sits right above your stomach, and it can become larger than normal due to eating an unhealthy diet. The enlarged liver makes it harder for the surgeon to safely reach the stomach during gastric sleeve surgery. To lower the risk of complications, your doctor may recommend a special pre-op diet to help shrink your liver before the procedure. The duration of this diet can vary by patient based on how enlarged their liver has become.
After the liver-shrinking diet, the gastric sleeve pre-op liquid diet begins and can last anywhere from twelve hours to a few weeks. The main purpose of this liquid diet is to ensure the stomach is completely empty before the patient is put under anesthesia for the surgery, but it can also be used as a part of the liver shrinking diet.
How Long Do You Follow A Gastric Sleeve Pre-Op Diet?
Because research has revealed that patients with higher BMI numbers are more likely to experience complications during and after surgery, the duration of the gastric sleeve pre-op diet can vary depending on how elevated their BMI is.
Each surgeon will have their own specific guidelines, but to mitigate risks, most will follow some similar to what is outlined in the chart below.
| Starting BMI | Length Of Diet |
|---|---|
| Under 38 | May be exempt from a liver-shrinking diet but must follow a liquid-only diet |
| 38–39.9 | 7 days |
| 40–44.9 | 14 days |
| 45–49.9 | 21 days |
| 50 or higher | 30 days |
Gastric Sleeve Pre-Op Diet: What to Expect
Your surgeon’s gastric sleeve pre-op diet will most likely be customized for your BMI and your specific circumstances, but most patients will follow a three-step diet plan that includes the following:
- Step One
- Follow a low-calorie, high-protein diet that is to be followed for a length of time that is determined by your surgeon.
- Step Two
- Start your gastric sleeve pre-op liquid diet about two days before your surgery.
- Step Three
- Refrain from eating or drinking anything after midnight before your surgery.
What Does A Typical Gastric Sleeve Pre-Op Diet Meal Plan Look Like?
The surgeon will provide a guideline for your personal gastric sleeve pre-op meal plan, but a typical one-day plan may look like this.
to see the entire table
| Meal | Details |
|---|---|
| Protein Shakes | 1-2 shakes per day
|
| Non-Starchy Vegetables | Unlimited raw or cooked (avoid potatoes, peas, and corn) |
| Lean Proteins | 2 servings (4-7 oz each) of fish, turkey, or 95% lean ground beef |
| Healthy Fats | 1-2 servings per day (e.g., olive oil, avocado oil, olives, nuts, or avocado) |
Some Common “Off-Limits” Food And Beverages During Your Pre-Op Gastric Sleeve Diet
- Sugary foods and drinks, like soda, candy, cakes, pastries, and sweetened beverages, are high in sugar and should be avoided;
- High-carbohydrate foods like pasta, bread, rice, potatoes, etc;
- Fried foods like french fries, fried chicken, bacon, etc;
- All processed foods, such as chips, frozen meals, fast food, snack foods, etc;
- High-calorie condiments and salad dressings like ketchup, mayonnaise, creamy salad dressings, BBQ sauce, etc;
- Milk, yogurt, cheese, and other high-fat dairy products;
- Nicotine, alcohol, products that contain THC, marijuana, etc.
How Will I Feel When Starting My Gastric Sleeve Pre-Op Liquid Diet?
Starting a gastric sleeve pre-op liquid diet will be a big adjustment, and the first few days may be especially challenging. Your body is used to solid foods, so switching to only liquids may cause some unpleasant side effects, including:
- Hunger pains;
- Headaches;
- Fatigue and low energy;
- Constipation or diarrhea;
- Upset stomach or nausea;
- Mood swings.
Your body will adjust, and these symptoms should gradually improve, but staying hydrated, drinking enough protein shakes, and following your doctor’s guidelines can help make the transition easier.
It is good to keep in mind that you are doing this to ensure your surgery and recovery go smoothly and to help your body adjust to the lifestyle changes necessary to improve your health.
What Happens If I Slack Off On My Pre-Op Diet Before Gastric Sleeve?
As we discussed before, the phases of the pre-op diet serve two purposes, which are to reduce the size of your liver and to ensure your safety on the day of surgery. If you do not follow the diet your BMI may not come down enough for the surgeon to feel comfortable performing your surgery and they may reschedule. If the surgery was started as planned and it was discovered your liver was still very enlarged, the surgery may have to be stopped and postponed to a later date.
It would be awful to go through the entire surgical process just to wake up and discover you need to do it all over again at a later time. It is a much safer plan to persevere and complete your gastric sleeve pre-op diet than to risk your own safety or have to postpone your surgery.
There Is A Better Option For Weight Loss Than Gastric Sleeve
If you have been thinking about having gastric sleeve surgery but are hesitant to have surgery or endure the extended recovery time that comes with it, the doctors at Reveal Weight Loss can help! Set up a consultation today to learn about endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG), which is a procedure that provides very similar results without the use of surgery or incisions.
ESG reduces the usable size and capacity of your stomach, but unlike gastric sleeve surgery, ESG uses sutures that are applied from the inside instead of cutting off 80% of your stomach tissue.
The doctor uses a medical device called an endoscope to gain access to the inside of your stomach by lowering it down your throat while you are under sedation. The procedure usually takes about an hour, and then you stay for a short observation period before being discharged to go home for your super short recovery of about three days.
How Does The Pre-op Diet For Gastric Sleeve vs ESG Compare?
Gastric sleeve surgery requires a longer pre-op diet and more involved preparation when compared to ESG.
to see the entire table
| Procedure | Length of Pre-Op Liver Shrinking Diet | Length Of Pre-Op Liquid Diet |
|---|---|---|
| Gastric Sleeve Surgery | Approximately 6 weeks (varies with BMI) | Approximately 2 weeks |
| Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) | Typically exempt from liver-shrinking diet | 24 to 48 hours |
The Team At Reveal Weight Loss Is Ready To Help You!
To lose and maintain a healthy weight, you will need to make permanent lifestyle changes, which can be very challenging. The good news is that you do not have to do it alone; the compassionate professionals at Reveal Weight Loss will be with you every step of the way.
They will create a plan that is personalized just for you that meets your needs and circumstances and provides you with the knowledge, tools, and resources to reach your goals. Set up your consultation today to learn about losing weight without surgery.
