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How Fast Will I Lose Weight After Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

How Fast Will I Lose Weight After Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

Question Below Submitted By:  

Betty (a patient from Atlanta)

Hi!

I have my gastric sleeve surgery coming up in a couple weeks and am trying to prepare for how fast I will be losing weight after my procedure.

I am 5’6″ and 255, which is a BMI of 41ish. I am so(!) excited to lose this weight.

I know you can lose weight at a pretty rapid rate, so I’m trying to understand the practical implications of that. For example, how much can I expect to lose on average from week to week or month to month?

This is really important to me because I work in a VERY professional office, and I know I’m going to be successful at this (woo!), but that means I’m going to need to buy new clothes as I lose weight. Turns out professional clothes are rather expensive : ( and I’m certainly no millionaire so I’m going to need to budget this out a bit.

I can find a lot of information online about the long-term weight loss of gastric sleeve, but not a lot of information on the rate of weight loss per week or per month.

Any info would be super helpful! Thanks so much and god bless!

– Betty

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01.

Expert Responses to the Question Above

Surgeon Response to "How Fast Will I lose Weight After Gastric Sleeve Surgery?"

by: John Rabkin, M.D., Pacific Laparoscopy

Betty,

Congratulations on your upcoming Weight Loss surgery (WLS.). I am as confident as you are that you will be successful on this journey!

Every patient loses weight at a different rate after WLS. Men tend to lose faster (and more) than women and the larger patients more than the smaller ones. The choice of procedure also impacts the weight loss, both the overall magnitude of the weight loss as well as the rate of the weight loss.

My general experience with a typical patient after undergoing a verticle sleeve gastectomy (VSG) is that they lose approximately one-half pound a day for the first six weeks (3 to 4 pounds per week) and then about one-third of a pound a day for the next six weeks (2 to 3 pounds per week). Therefore, you may expect a 30 to 40 pound weight loss during the first 3 months. Typically patients continue to lose weight at a gradually slowing rate for the initial 9 to 18 months following their VSG and then (hopefully, with considerable effort on their part) stabilize at their 'nadir' (lowest) weight. It's important to also know that during this period of weight loss many patients experience variable duration 'plateaus' where their weight remains stable for a few weeks before the weight loss resumes.

In regards to fitting in new clothes, many patients also discuss losing "inches" as opposed to "pounds" as they lose weight, with the two NOT always correlating. This is in part due to redistribution of the weight and potential increasing lean body mass (muscle mass). Consequently, you may want to 'source' some used professional clothing of various decreasing sizes as you experience your weight loss prior to stabilization at your final 'nadir' weight. Many bariatric support groups sponsor 'clothes racks' with donated clothes to help people who transiently need specific size clothes as their size decreases over time following their WLS.

Best regards,

John Rabkin, M.D.
Pacific Laparoscopy

(click here for Dr. Rabkin's full bio & contact info)

DISCLAIMER: This educational advice is based on the depth of your question and the details provided. The above should never replace the advice of your local physicians as they have the ability to evaluate you in person.

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02.

Patient Responses to the Question Above

Reasons for weight loss

by: CH

Curious,

How much of the weight loss post bariatric surgery can be attributed to the fact that the post surgery diets are liquid diets limited to protein shakes for a couple weeks and then progress to clear liquids etc.

Seems like if someone were to consume the same "diet" and take same vitamins they would be able to lose a significant amount of weight as well only without the pain of surgery. In fact, consuming 64 oz+ of water would be easier and could exercise as well instead of waiting 6 wks for release.

Wondering if someone was not a candidate for surgery and wanted to "jump start" their weight loss program how effective this might be for them.

Thank you

Tomorrow is 1 month since my sleeve

by: Casra

Despite being hungry, a lot. My regrets have moved aside. I've lost 45.2lbs so far. I'm blown away.

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Patients who qualify for bariatric surgery usually:

  • Are at least 80 lbs (36 kg) overweight
  • Are between 18 and 75 years old
  • Have a history of failed weight loss attempts (e.g., failed diets)
  • Thoroughly understand that the procedure is just a tool; long-term success requires significant diet and lifestyle changes

The minimum bariatric surgery qualifications include:

  • A body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more
  • OR a BMI between 30 and 39.9 with a serious obesity-related health problem like diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, joint problems, or others
  • OR a BMI of 30 to 40 with or without health issues for the gastric balloon procedure

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Bariatric surgery insurance coverage varies by insurance policy:

Individual/Family Plans & Small Group Plans – Coverage varies by state; coverage is required by the Affordable Care Act in some states

Large Group Plans – Coverage depends on whether your employer has chosen to add it to your policy

Medicare and Medicaid – Bariatric surgery is covered

If your policy covers it and you meet the qualification requirements, your plan will likely include 4 procedures:

  • Gastric sleeve
  • Gastric bypass
  • LAP-BAND®
  • Duodenal switch

Your surgeon may be able to get partial coverage for the other procedures.

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You will start losing weight fast after any bariatric surgery procedure, but the total amount lost varies based on:

  • The procedure you choose
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Enter your information into the tool to get an idea about how much weight you’ll lose after each procedure.

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Your out-of-pocket bariatric surgery cost can range anywhere from $0 to $20,000 or more depending on several factors, including:

Whether your insurance covers it – many insurances (including Medicare, Medicaid, and many individual/family and employer-provided policies) cover the majority of costs for gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, LAP-BAND®, and duodenal switch. The other types of bariatric surgery are less likely to be covered, although you may be able to get insurance to pay for some of the costs. Tap the “With Insurance” button in the tool to see average out-of-pocket costs per procedure after insurance pays. See our Insurance Tool to find out if your plan covers it.

Which procedure you choose – if insurance won’t pay, costs range anywhere from $8,000 to $20,000+, depending on the procedure. Tap the “Without Insurance” button in the tool to compare the national average self-pay costs for each procedure. (NOTE: Some surgeons offer each procedure for as low as half of the national average).

How competitive your surgeon and hospital fees are – there is often a substantial difference in costs between different doctors and hospitals, even within the same town.

Whether you qualify for tax write-offs – Bariatric surgery is tax deductible, which can have a big impact on the total cost of surgery. You can deduct medical expenses if your out-of-pocket costs are more than 10% of your adjusted gross income. See our Tax Tool to find out if your bariatric procedure will be tax deductible.

How you choose to pay for your procedure – If insurance covers it, you’ll only be responsible for any copays, deductibles, and coinsurance required by your specific plan. If you pay for the procedure without insurance, total costs will depend on how you pay. For example, your surgeon may offer a discount if you pay the full amount up front, and you can make the costs more affordable by applying for bariatric surgery financing.

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Weight loss surgery is tax deductible, which can have a big impact on the total cost of surgery. You can deduct medical expenses if the costs are more than 10% of your adjusted gross income.

Use the tool to find out if you qualify for a tax deduction.

To receive the deductions, you’ll need to complete Schedule A of the IRS Form 1040. You’ll also need to save your medical bills and payment statements as proof. Money in one of the following special savings accounts (or even your IRA) may also be a way to pay for part of surgery tax-free:

  • Health Savings Account (HSA)
  • Archer Medical Savings Account (Archer MSA)
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Weight loss surgery is tax deductible, which can have a big impact on the total cost of surgery. You can deduct medical expenses if the costs are more than 10% of your adjusted gross income.

Use the tool to find out if you qualify for a tax deduction

To receive the deductions, you’ll need to complete Schedule A of the IRS Form 1040. You’ll also need to save your medical bills and payment statements as proof.

Money in one of the following special savings accounts (or even your IRA) may also be a way to pay for part of surgery tax-free:

  • Health Savings Account (HSA)
  • Archer Medical Savings Account (Archer MSA)
  • Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)
  • Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
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Bariatric surgery recovery varies by procedure. Here are the ranges:

  • Timeline Range: from 3 days to 6 weeks to full recovery
    • Hospital Stay: from outpatient (return home same-day) to 3 days
    • Back to Work: from 3 days to 3 weeks
  • Pain Range: from mild discomfort to manageable with medication
  • Diet Range: from no restrictions to slow transition from clear liquids to solid foods
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There are 6 types of bariatric surgery (also called “weight loss surgery”) available, including:

  • Gastric Sleeve – feel less hungry & full sooner while eating
  • Gastric Bypass – feel full sooner while eating & absorb fewer minerals
  • Duodenal Switch – feel less hungry & full sooner while eating, absorb fewer calories and minerals
  • LAP-BAND® – feel full sooner while eating
  • Gastric Balloon – temporarily feel full sooner while eating (balloon removed after 6 months)
  • AspireAssist – drain a portion of stomach contents after eating

Use the tool to compare each procedure.

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The best weight loss surgery options for you depend on:

  • How much weight you want to lose
  • Your current age, weight, health issues, habits, and lifestyle
  • Your expectations for life after surgery
  • Whether you want a reversible procedure
  • What “trade-offs” you are willing to make

Take the quiz to find out which two procedures are best for you and why.

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Bariatric surgery “cures” or significantly improves many obesity-related health conditions, including:

  • Diabetes
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  • Joint issues
  • … and many others

Select your health conditions in the tool, then click the Submit button to find out the impact a procedure like gastric sleeve can have.

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[ Last editorial review/modification of this page : 05/24/2021 ]

* Disclaimers: Content: The information contained in this website is provided for general information purposes and your specific results may vary depending on a variety of circumstances. It is not intended as nor should be relied upon as medical advice. Rather, it is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her existing physician(s). Before you use any of the information provided in the site, you should seek the advice of a qualified medical, dietary, fitness or other appropriate professional. Advertising: Bariatric Surgery Source, LLC has entered into referral and advertising arrangements with certain medical practices, original equipment manufacturers, and financial companies under which we receive compensation (in the form of flat fees per qualifying action) when you click on links to our partners and/or submit information. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Read More

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