How much does the sleeve really stretch??

[Heatherr 149]

For what it's worth, I am 18 months post op and my sleeve has stretched. I am ok with this though. I still can't eat a lot, but I feel like i eat more normal now if that makes sense. I can eat a normal sized piece of pizza. I can eat a sandwich if it's on toasted light bread. I can eat half a sandwich and a little Soup. I used to be able to eat only 4 shrimp, now I can eat 8 jumbo shrimp.

I can almost finish the Protein and one side at a restaurant (petite meals not 12oz steaks) I can also eat 1 small hamburger.

I still choose to stay on plan most nof the time but have lightened up because l'm still living life and can handle it. I don't fall off the wagon if I have something not so healthy and I tend to stick to Protein and veggies because I mostly prefer them. I'll take shrimp over a fast food hamburger any day.

I guess I just wanted to put it into perspective. Yes, my sleeve can fit more food, but is eating only one light sandwich for lunch a bad thing? I basically eat 3 times a day now instead of 6, so I'm probably eating the same amount of food but more at a time. This has made my ridiculously busy life easier. The glass is half full or half empty. It's up to you.

[TheCurvyJones 721]

My surgeon's response to this question:

Sleeve stretching is known with time. The sleeve will never ever stretch out to the original size though. But the larger the original sleeve (larger bougie used in

surgery

) and if funds of the stomach is left behind you will have a tendency to stretch out your sleeve. Nowadays most surgeons use bougies between 32-36 which reduces this risk. The surgical technique is important to make sure the sleeve is done correctly and removing the part of the stomach called funds (which also reduces the Ghrelin hormone).

Now, patients with sleeves will notice that the restriction is amazing at the first few weeks at that is mainly due to the swollen tissue of the stomach because of the recent

surgery

. It is not your real capacity. As the swollen tissues comes down your stomach will have more "space" to hold food but still a fraction of what you used to eat prior to

surgery

.

The etiology of the bypass patient who regains weight is or stretches the pouch is quite different since

RNY

patients have an anastomosis that will distend with time along with the small intestine that will enlarge in diameter giving more capacity to the patient. Since the sleeve lacks all these issues you just need to focus on healthy food and make the most of the weight loss specially the first 12 to 18 months.

And here is the vid he shot on this subject back in January:

So, yes like the previous poster, you will be able to eat a 'normal' sized meal eventually. However, your sleeve should never stretch the point it was before. Nor will it stretch like an RNY pouch, requiring revision like stomaphyx or other techniques.

For the record, Dr Alvarez typically uses a loose 32 French Bougie. With this size I have incredible restriction at 8 weeks but my sleeve is not so small as to be intolerant or particularly picky. Recovery has been really easy for me.