Bariatric surgery is a life-changing surgery to lose weight and build confidence. Nevertheless, the question that many patients always have is most likely, Can your stomach grow after bariatric surgery? Yes, but not absolutely would be an answer to this. Without eating well, the stomach is capable of increasing a little and twisting in the long run, but it will never be restored to its initial size again.
What happens to the stomach after having bariatric surgery?
Surgeons apply remedies like gastric sleeve surgery or gastric bypass surgery to make the stomach smaller so as to restrict the amount of food an individual can take. In a gastric sleeve, the surgeon will take 75-80 percent of the stomach, and what remains is a small tube-like formation. Gastric bypass surgery consists of creating a small pouch of the stomach and connecting the pouch directly to the small intestine, which reduces the quantity of food that an individual can consume and the calories absorbed by the body.
You have a smaller stomach that fills up quicker, resulting in you consuming less. However, over time, as one continues to overeat, the stomach will be able to stretch. This leaves one asking questions like: Will my stomach grow back after gastric sleeve?
Will My Stomach Grow Back After Gastric Sleeve?
The part of the stomach that is removed when a gastric sleeve is done does not grow back, and the only increase that can be made is in the size of the pouch that is left because of continuous overeating or eating too much food. The stomach is rather flexible in its nature and, therefore, through repeated expansion, the restrictive effect of the surgery can be reduced. To avoid this, it is important to adhere to the dietary regimen of your surgeon and not to exceed the capacity of your stomach.
Can Your Stomach Grow Back After Removal?
Once part of the stomach is removed, it will not regenerate. But the rest of it can be elongated. The stomach walls are elastic and are created to swell a little bit so as to accommodate food and liquid. If you keep on feeding yourself with big meals, then that flexibility becomes more, and you can consume more than you used to consume. It is this stretching and not regrowth that can lead to your decreased weight loss results.
How Soon Can Your Stomach Stretch After a Gastric Bypass?
The most common question with many patients is, How quickly can you stretch your stomach after gastric bypass? Flexibility is never a one-time affair. It is slow, in most cases, which takes months or even seasons to be done, depending on the eating habits. In an individual in the initial phases of his or her healing, the stomach pouch becomes tight. When done regularly, bad habits like overeating or drinking during meals gradually stretch the stomach.
How Long Does It Take to Stretch Your Stomach After a Gastric Sleeve?
A gastric sleeve leaves the stomach with an initial holding capacity of 2-4 ounces of food. The pouch can gradually swell if you consume a larger amount of food than recommended. Stretching can be felt in several months or even years. A little bit of stretching is normal and can be comfortable to eat, but too much enlargement may result in regaining weight. This can be avoided by being regular in taking small, balanced meals.
Can You Shrink Your Stomach Back After a Gastric Sleeve?
When your stomach has been a bit stretched out, you can make it shrink a little. Although it will not be the same size as after the surgery, with the help of a strict diet, one will feel restricted again.
Here’s how to help:
- Eat small, protein-rich meals.
- Avoid drinks and snacks that contain a lot of calories.
- Never drink water at mealtime, but drink it slowly in between meals.
- Make a follow-up plan with your surgeon and work it out.
These exercises are able to keep weight off and eliminate additional stretch.
Final Thoughts
So, can your stomach grow after undergoing bariatric surgery? Your gastric sleeve or gastric bypass will only be a success as long as you have good eating habits and portion control.With advice from your surgeon, slow eating, with emphasis on nutrition, you can not only enjoy long-term weight loss but also ensure that your stomach does not stretch too far. It is the second chance your surgery provides you; you keep it with the help of your discipline. Visit Slimthetics and consult with our best Surgeon Dr Tnaseer Asghar and get the best bariatric surgery in Islamabad.
