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Surgical Weight Loss

Helping patients overcome weight loss issues

St. Luke's Surgical Weight Loss Program helps patients overcome weight issues and enjoy improved health and well-being. Dr. John Bollins and Dr. Jennifer Witt, both of whom are board-certified in general surgery, and their staff work closely with patients before and after bariatric surgery to prepare for and work through the lifestyle changes needed for a lasting, positive outcome.

The Sleeve Gastrectomy Procedure
Our bariatric surgeons are skilled and experienced in the sleeve gastrectomy weight loss procedure. This procedure can be done with minimal invasion using a laparoscopic approach or through traditional open surgery.

In a sleeve gastrectomy, a large portion of the stomach is removed, leaving behind only a small “sleeve” of stomach behind. This creates a feeling of fullness faster and reduces the amount of food you can consume in one sitting. You will need to make some significant lifestyle changes once this surgery takes place, including easing into a light diet as your body recovers from the surgery and adjusts to its smaller stomach.

Diet guidelines after a sleeve gastrectomy:

  • Week one: Drink only sugar-free, decaffeinated drinks. Eat only very light foods, such as gelatin and sugar-free popsicles. You should also be drinking a minimum of 8 glasses of water per day.
  • Weeks two to three: Continue with a liquid diet, but you can now include up to 20 grams of protein per day. Recommended foods include Greek yogurt, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, baby food, thin oatmeal, and low sugar pureed foods.
  • Week four: At this stage, you should include up to 80 grams of protein into your diet. Continue avoiding sugar, but it is now safe to eat fish, eggs, soft vegetables, low-fat cheese, and low-fat deli meat.
  • Week five and onward: By this point, you should be recovered enough that you can start creating a long-term diet. It is safe to eat most types of food at this point, and it is recommended you include protein-rich foods that provide the nutrition you need in small quantities. Continue avoiding foods with high sugar and fat content such as white bread, sodas, fried foods, pre-packaged foods, etc.

You need to be prepared for the lifestyle and diet changes required after weight loss surgery. A weight loss procedure can help prevent complications from obesity-related health problems, but only when you commit to the personal care that comes afterward. We offer numerous education courses and counseling to help you through this process.

For more information, call 218.249.6040.