Gastric Sleeve 10 Years Later: Facts & What to Expect
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  • International Clinics
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  • 25 September 2024

Gastric Sleeve 10 Years Later: Facts & Statistics of Long term Success Rate

Gastric sleeve is a type of weight loss surgery that entails extracting roughly 75-80% of your stomach. Although the surgery is known for being highly effective and safe in the short and long term, many people speculate about the results of gastric sleeve 10 years later.

The surgery leaves you with a stomach that takes the appearance of a banana, akin to a “sleeve”. Your new stomach only can hold around 5-6 ounces of food and liquids. Gastric sleeve in Turkey, in particular, can largely contribute to the reduction in overall caloric intake and facilitates weight loss.

Nonetheless, what could happen after 10 years following the surgery is something interesting and worth investigating because a gastric sleeve is a “permanent” solution that must remain active for years to come. 

What to Expect 10 Years After Gastric Sleeve?

Gastric Sleeve 10 Years Later results
Image source: https://somd.com

According to recent studies, patients who have undergone gastric sleeve surgery have shown significant improvement in their quality of life even after a decade following the procedure. The improvements manifest in the following aspects:

Noticeable Weight Loss

As you may expect, 10 years are enough to show up the full results of gastric sleeve. On average, people lose around 55% of their original excess body weight after 10 years. Some may lose more than this percentage, depending on their commitment to a healthy lifestyle.

One crucial factor that determines the long-term success of the surgery is the percentage of excess weight loss, which refers to the amount of weight you lose above your ideal body weight.

Research examining long-term weight loss after the gastric sleeve indicates that the average excess weight loss changes over time. After 5 years, the average was 62.3%, then it decreased to 53.8% after 6 years, 43% after 7 years, and rose again to 54.8% after 8 or more years following the gastric sleeve procedure.

However, the 10-year success rate after undergoing gastric sleeve is observed to be only 41% according to a study. Hence, the surgery should only be recommended to selected patients, including people with low BMI (Body Mass Index) and without preoperative symptoms of acid reflux GERD.

Normal Food Tolerance

Gastric sleeve surgery in Turkey may cause a certain level of food intolerance. Thankfully, most people return to the normal level of food tolerance as the years go by after gastric sleeve. Indeed, 95.2% of people report acceptable to excellent food tolerance, which is a significant aspect of a better quality of life.

Disease Prevention

Obesity-related illnesses, such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, can be put into remission following the surgery. As a result, people may experience an increase in overall welfare, self-confidence, mobility, and social life.

Interestingly, the incidence of depression can decrease significantly after the procedure. However, it is important to note that each patients experience may differ, and the level of benefits will depend on several factors.

Related Article: Low BMI Gastric Sleeve Before and After

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Possible Weight Gain 10 Years After Sleeve Gastrectomy

Unfortunately, the reality after gastric sleeve surgery isn’t always straightforward. While the majority of people happily lose weight over the years and escape the dangers of obesity, some people may gain weight, especially those who ignore the instructions of the surgeons or cheat on their post-op diet.

Indeed, approximately 13-30% of gastric sleeve patients are estimated to experience long-term weight regain. In fact, some patients may gain up to 2% of their starting weight back or even more.

That isn’t something common, but it happens in some cases. Weight gain following the gastric sleeve procedure is often related to patient diet cheating and lifestyle factors.

Early weight loss progress during the first 1-3 months after surgery can potentially predict your long-term weight loss results.

Therefore, its highly recommended that high-risk individuals start implementing dietary and lifestyle modifications as soon as possible after the surgery.

Related Article: Mini Gastric Sleeve

What Are The Risks of Gastric Sleeve 10 Years Later?

Gastric Sleeve risks

In the long term, gastric sleeve has been shown to produce fewer side effects and complications when compared to other types of obesity surgery in Turkey. In fact, the adverse health effects are dramatically less than those who ignore all bariatric procedures altogether.

However, there is a somewhat higher incidence of gastroesophageal reflux. A small number of people require revision surgery to a gastric bypass 10 years after the procedure because of severe reflux. the surgery can be revised or upgraded with revision surgery to achieve successful results and resolve regrets.

On the positive side, severe vitamin or micronutrient deficiencies are minimal. Low levels of vitamin D, iron, and B12 can be solved easily using oral supplementation. Hence, gastric sleeve surgery is generally safe. Nonetheless, like any other surgery, it can have some potential complications in the long run. These complications may include:

  • Dumping syndrome
  • Bowel obstruction
  • Severe acid reflux
  • Low blood sugar
  • Nutrient deficiencies
  • Gallstones
  • Hernias
  • Scars
  • Leakage

Related Article: Gastric Sleeve vs Gastric Bypass

 How to Keep the Results After Gastric Sleeve?

Although some weight gain after gastric sleeve surgery is inevitable in many cases, there are certain measures you can take to improve the long-term outcomes and keep the good results. Prior to and after the procedure, the surgeon will guide the patient through the lifestyle modifications and tips that may be required to fulfill this purpose. Below are some of these tips:

Follow the Right Lifestyle Changes

To sustain weight loss, you must make ongoing changes to your lifestyle. Complying with these changes is crucial to achieving overall success. This could entail embracing a healthier diet and engaging in more physical activity. After all, committing to healthier habits and attitudes that facilitate weight loss will have the most direct effect on sustaining weight reduction over the long term.

When it comes to diet, this may involve the consumption of certain foods in a particular order and in specific portion sizes to ensure that the patient obtains the nutrients they require without promoting weight gain.

Get the Necessary Support

Building a support network with individuals around you can help maintain your motivation, facilitate success, and remain on track with your weight loss goals. Most gastric sleeve patients prefer to keep in touch with other patients who underwent the surgery. This helps them share their experiences and get more advice on many things.

Keep the Contact Channels Open with Your Surgeon

Maintaining open lines of communication with your bariatric surgeon and their team is critical. If you observe any weight regain, make an appointment to speak with them so they can identify the root cause and work with you to find the most effective solution. They are here to aid you in your weight loss journey and are committed to assisting you.

Related Article: Hungry After Gastric Sleeve

Gastric Sleeve Statistics

Here are the key statistics on gastric sleeve surgery.

StatisticDetails
Success Rate80-90% success rate in terms of weight loss and health improvements.
Weight Loss (1 Year Post-Surgery)60-70% of excess weight lost within the first year.
Initial Impact (First 2 Weeks)10-20 lbs lost in the first two weeks, with 1 lb per day on average.
Early Months (First 3 Months)35-45% of excess weight loss within the first three months.
Halfway Mark (First 6 Months)50-60% of excess weight loss by six months post-surgery.
One-Year Milestone60-70% of excess weight loss by the end of the first year.
Long-Term Success (12-24 Months)Patients reach their lowest weight between 12-24 months after surgery.
Seven Years Post-OpPatients regained only 3.9% of body weight on average after 3-7 years.
Health Condition ImprovementType 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, fatty liver, joint pain, and high cholesterol improve or enter remission.
Effect on AppetiteDecreased hunger and reduced desire to eat post-surgery.
Surgery Prevalence (US)Over 50% of weight-loss surgeries in the U.S. are gastric sleeve procedures.
Global StatisticsApproximately 380,000 gastric sleeve surgeries are performed worldwide annually.
Surgery QualificationOnly 1% of people who qualify for the surgery actually undergo it.

The Bottom Line

The results and changes of gastric sleeve 10 years later are commonly positive and worth speculating. Patients enjoy a better life quality and easily can reach their weight loss goals. Besides, the surgery prevents various obesity-related problems, including diabetes. 

However, some patients may gain weight in the years that follow the surgery. It’s also possible for some complications and side effects to develop, which may require revision surgery in some cases. Thus, it’s extremely important to stick to diet instructions given by the surgeon.

International Clinics in Turkey provides special packages for those who seek gastric sleeve abroad. The packages include follow-up consultations in the years following the procedure. You can contact us immediately using the Contact Us button below.

Related Article: What They Don’t Tell You About Gastric Sleeve?

FAQ's

Gastric sleeve lasts for years to come. In other words, the surgery is supposed to be a permanent solution to obesity. However, many patients might exhibit a tendency to regain weight after approximately 2 years from the primary surgery. To avoid this problem, you need to adhere to the diet recommendations of your surgeon.

Problems that gastric sleeve can cause years later include persistent gastroesophageal reflux, nausea and vomiting, gastrointestinal obstruction, hypoglycemia, malnutrition, and hernias.

According to a study, the mean total score for quality of life was 0.64 for gastric sleeve and 0.41 for gastric bypass after 10 years following the procedures. Hence, a gastric sleeve seems better than a gastric bypass in the long run.

You can get a second gastric sleeve or “re-sleeve” surgery only if necessary. However, the former procedure usually carries out an elevated risk of complications, including gastric fistula.

The 10 year results of sleeve gastrectomy include better quality of life, sustained weight loss, decreased likelihood of obesity-related diseases, and better tolerance to food.

Gastric sleeve can’t reverse itself, unlike other procedures such as an adjustable gastric band and gastric bypass. In other words, the surgery can’t be undone, but you can get a revision or re-sleeve surgery if your case requires that.

Around 13-30% of people who undergo gastric sleeve surgery may experience some weight regain after a few years. However, the amount regained is typically less than the total weight lost, and most individuals maintain significant weight loss long-term.

To restart weight loss after gastric sleeve surgery, focus on eating protein-rich foods, reducing carbs and sugars, and controlling portions. Track your meals, increase physical activity, and avoid snacking between meals. Stay hydrated, eat mindfully, and consult a dietitian if needed. Joining support groups or revisiting your post-surgery diet plan can also help.