After Gastric Sleeve Surgery Archives - Page 3 of 3

Alcohol After Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Here are some of the many reasons that physicians are on the fence about drinking alcohol after gastric sleeve surgery.

Alcohol is very high in calories but has no nutritional values. There is some evidence that red wine does have some health benefits. On a post-weight gastric sleeve surgery diet you want to avoid consuming empty calories which your body will absorb. Drinking alcohol can cause you to gain weight, not lose it.

It can be dangerous as a person who had weight loss surgery can become more intoxicated. They have a higher blood alcohol count. They also took longer to become sober.

Drinking alcohol can become habit-forming. Being post-surgery your sensitivity can be heightened causing you to become addicted to alcohol.

Your metabolism is altered after gastric sleeve surgery. This means that your blood alcohol levels will peak higher. Your blood alcohol levels will also take longer to return to normal levels.

After surgery you need to eat so many calories. For some if they drink alcohol they will eat less food.

Consuming alcohol can deplete the sugar in your body, causing your blood sugar levels to drop. This can lead to patients who have had weight loss surgery to develop low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia. This is a very dangerous condition.

They could have addiction transfer. If the person was addicted to food and now has to reduce how much food they consume they could start a new addiction. This could be addition to alcohol, shopping, gambling, etc.

Guideline for Drinking After Gastric Sleeve

If your physician gives you permission to drink alcohol after gastric sleeve surgery here are some simple guidelines you should follow.

For the first six months after having surgery avoid alcohol

Avoid sugary drink mixers and carbonated beverages

Remember even small amounts can cause low blood sugars. Small amounts can even cause intoxication.

Drink only with meals to help slow alcohol absorption

Check calorie content of the alcohol

In Conclusion

If you have any questions about gastric sleeve surgery and alcohol talk to your physician. Remember that you had surgery to loose weight, not gain it. The empty calories from alcohol can put on a few pounds. If you are a diabetic it can also cause low sugar, which can be dangerous. After reading all the effects alcohol can have on a person who has had gastric sleeve surgery, it would be advisable not to drink alcohol.

For some women (and men) it may be one of the scariest thoughts that you go through gastric sleeve or gastric bypass surgery to lose weight and end up losing your hair! It is common to lose hair after bariatric surgery. Hair loss can occur in 40% of patients.

Hair loss happens everyday; it is part of a natural growth cycle. Of course, external factors may affect the rate of hair loss, these include; genetics, stress, environment and diet.

Causes of Hair Loss After Bariatric Surgery

Changes in Diet

Hair loss after bariatric surgery is normally caused by the reduction in vitamin and nutritional intake. You may have protein and iron deficiencies in your new diet because of the weight loss surgery.

Changes in Hormones

Hormones levels change post-bariatric surgery; these changes can cause the normal hair growth cycle to be altered. During your weight loss your body is trying to find a new hormonal balance and once you achieve your weight loss goal and your weight stabilizes, so will your hormones.

Trauma of Surgical procedure

If you experience the hair loss right away post-bariatric surgery, the cause may be the surgery event in itself. The physiological stress from the surgery may cause a temporary disturbance to the body that can cause hair loss.

Preventing Hair Loss After Bariatric Surgery

The best defense to bariatric surgery hair loss is a good offence. Start with a well-planned post-surgical diet that your bariatric surgeon has given you. You will need to make sure that you get the right balance of vitamins and nutrient levels for your body and activity levels. After your bariatric surgery you may see some hair loss, but this should decline after the first six months.

Treatment for Hair Loss After Bariatric Surgery

4 Tips for Preventing Hair Loss After Bariatric Surgery

Take the recommended Vitamins and Minerals on a daily Basis
Eat You Protein! Protein is the building blocks of all cells in your body. Your hair requires protein to grow strong and healthy
Have your Iron Levels Checked: This is important if you are past 6 months post op and you are still losing lots of hair
Extra Zinc. If you are one-year post op and are still having issues with hair loss, adding Zinc may be able to reverse hair loss issues in bariatric surgery patients.

It is also important to understand that Stress related hair loss can only be cured by reducing your stress.

By following these tips for hair loss after bariatric surgery you will end up with beautiful shiny strong hair and a rocking body to boot!