If you’re considering having gastric sleeve surgery in Tijuana, Mexico, then one of the most important questions you’ll be asking yourself is how long does it take? There are a lot of factors that determine the length of time for this procedure, and we’ll dig into them below, then focus on some other time-based issues surrounding surgery that you might want to keep in mind.
How Long Does Gastric Sleeve Surgery Take? The Typical Gastric Sleeve Timeline
The average length for gastric sleeve surgery is two hours in total. This doesn’t include an hour to prep and an hour in recovery, so you might want to factor those in as well when setting your expectations.
This may seem like a lot. However, it is just four hours, when many surgeries can take upwards of five hours just for the procedure itself.
Factors That Can Lengthen the Surgery Time for Gastric Sleeve
The first factor that can affect how long gastric sleeve surgery takes is the surgeon. Some surgeons just have a different technique, and it might take longer for them to complete things due to this fact.
Another thing you should keep in mind is if there are any complications or other issues during your surgery time frame. This, too, can lengthen your surgery time.
Lastly, if you’re having open-field surgery rather than laparoscopic gastric sleeve, this will increase your timeline.
What About Recovery?
Four hours from preparation to recovery is brief compared to gastric sleeve recovery. Gastric sleeve recovery takes a few weeks, so be prepared for that. If you want to make your recovery period as quick as possible, follow these tips:
Tips for a Speedy Gastric Sleeve Recovery
- Follow your doctor’s orders. Take pain medication on the set schedule, only eat the limited foods they approve, and be very careful with your incisions.
- Take it easy. No strenuous activity until you are given clearance by your doctor.
- The first thing you should do after gastric sleeve surgery is to drink lots of water to flush your system. You can also take medicine for constipation if needed, but avoid taking anything with aspirin or ibuprofen as it may cause bleeding and slow down recovery time. Although there are limitations on medications, especially for pain medicines after gastric sleeve surgery; only take your medicines after the doctor’s recommendation.
- Eat small meals during recovery so that your stomach learns how much food it can hold.
- You’ll need to take stool softeners and eat fiber-rich foods (once cleared to) such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans during recovery so that you don’t have too much trouble with constipation or diarrhea. Try not to skip meals either, because this will slow down your system even more than normal at the beginning of gastric sleeve recovery.
- Don’t drink carbonated beverages or too much caffeine either, and avoid eating for at least an hour before you go to bed during the first few weeks of gastric sleeve recovery as it can slow down digestion when your body is trying to rest.
It’s important to keep in mind there is also an adjustment period after surgery where you have to allow your body time to get used to the changes from gastric sleeve surgery before expecting optimum results.
Do you have any more questions about how long gastric sleeve surgery takes or what to expect after your procedure? Contact ALO Bariatrics and learn about the procedure and how much gastric sleeve in Mexico costs.
