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Do You Need to Lose Weight Before Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
In many cases, your healthcare provider may recommend losing some weight before undergoing gastric sleeve surgery — not just to make the surgery safer, but also to set you up for better long-term success.
However, this requirement is not the same for everyone. Let’s take a closer look at why pre-op weight loss might be recommended, what it involves, and when it’s necessary.
🩺 Why Is Pre-Surgery Weight Loss Sometimes Required?
One of the main goals of preoperative weight loss is to reduce the size of your liver. Obesity — especially when associated with a high-carb or fatty diet — can lead to an enlarged liver, which may:
- Make the surgery technically more difficult
- Increase the risk of complications
- Extend the length of the procedure
- Delay recovery
By losing even a small percentage of body weight (5–10%), patients can significantly improve surgical safety and outcomes.
🥗 Benefits of Losing Weight Before Surgery
Aside from reducing surgical risks, preoperative weight loss can also:
- Help you build healthier habits before surgery
- Make the transition to your post-op diet smoother
- Improve blood sugar levels, cholesterol, and blood pressure
- Lead to better post-surgery weight loss outcomes
It’s also a helpful way for your care team to assess your commitment to the lifestyle changes needed for long-term success.
⚖️ Is Pre-Surgery Weight Loss Always Required?
Not always. Some patients may:
- Already follow a relatively healthy lifestyle
- Have medical conditions that make rapid weight loss risky
- Be approved for surgery without a formal pre-op weight loss goal
That’s why your surgeon will make a personalized recommendation based on your health, BMI, and goals.
📋 What Does a Pre-Op Weight Loss Plan Look Like?
If you’re advised to lose weight before surgery, your care team may recommend:
- A high-protein, low-carbohydrate, low-calorie diet
- Avoiding sugary beverages, alcohol, and processed foods
- Meal replacement shakes as part of a supervised plan
- Light to moderate exercise, such as walking
- Keeping a food journal or using a diet-tracking app
These plans typically last 2 to 4 weeks and are tailored to your body’s needs.
💶 Gastric Sleeve Surgery in Turkey – From €3,000
At CosmetoCity, we offer gastric sleeve surgery in Antalya and Istanbul with top-tier surgeons and internationally accredited hospitals.
Our all-inclusive packages start from €3,000 and include:
- 🏥 Surgery & hospital stay
- 🧪 Pre-operative testing & consultation
- 🏨 Hotel accommodation & private transfers
- 💊 Post-op medications and nutrition guidance
- 💬 English-speaking medical coordinators
- 📞 Lifetime support for long-term weight loss success
✅ Final Thoughts
While not every patient needs to lose weight before gastric sleeve surgery, it’s often recommended to improve surgical safety and help you get started on the right foot. If your provider gives you a pre-op plan, following it carefully can lead to better results — both in surgery and in life after it.
📞 Ready to start your journey?
Contact CosmetoCity for a free consultation, and let us guide you step-by-step through a safe and effective gastric sleeve experience in Turkey.