Sleeve gastrectomy, also known as gastric sleeve surgery, is a type of bariatric (obesity) surgery performed to help overweight individuals lose weight. The surgery involves removing about 80% of the stomach and reshaping it into a smaller “tube” or “sheath”. This allows the patient to get full more quickly during a meal, thereby reducing calorie intake. However, as this is considered a major surgical intervention, whether you would regret undergoing gastric sleeve surgery would depend on a number of personal factors.
First of all, you should consider the possible effects of the surgery on your state of health. Sleeve gastrectomy often leads to significant weight loss, which can help improve Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and other obesity-related conditions. You are unlikely to regret undergoing the surgery taking into account these benefits if you have such health problems and your attempts to lose weight in other ways have been unsuccessful.
Gastric sleeve surgery, however, is also associated with serious risks and side effects. Among these can be post-operative infections, blood clots, nutritional deficiencies and stomach acid escaping back into the esophagus. Besides, this surgery requires a significant change in diet and lifestyle. In the aftermath of your surgery, you will need to change your eating habits significantly to be able to tolerate small portions. This may be challenging for some people and may lead to a feeling of regret after surgery.
Gastric sleeve surgery usually has a high success rate, but in some cases weight loss may be lower than expected or the patient may regain weight over time. The success of the surgery depends largely on whether the patient changes his or her lifestyle and adheres to his or her doctor’s recommendations. This constitutes another cause of regret for those who are dissatisfied with the results of the surgery and regret undergoing it.
Lastly, you should also consider the cost of having gastric sleeve surgery. The procedure is usually very costly, even if your insurance policy covers this type of surgery. Moreover, additional costs may arise due to post-operative lifestyle changes, dietary supplements and regular medical follow-up.
All in all, whether or not to regret undergoing gastric sleeve surgery would depend on your personal state and the way you consider the potential benefits and risks of the surgery. Before making such a decision, consulting with your doctor is important to thoroughly explore all options, possible complications and expected lifestyle changes. This would minimize any possible feelings of regret about the surgery and allow you to achieve your overall health goals.