When does the swelling go down?

[CoffeeBean 4]

How long does the stomach swelling last? My surgery is Sept 1st and I'll be back at my desk job 6 days later. Nobody knows I'm having the surgery except my sister and husband. I don't want to come back looking pregnant.......not that I don't have belly fat already.

[LVikingFan 14]

How long does the stomach swelling last? My surgery is Sept 1st and I'll be back at my desk job 6 days later. Nobody knows I'm having the surgery except my sister and husband. I don't want to come back looking pregnant.......not that I don't have belly fat already.

The swelling from the gas they use for the surgery was gone pretty much in the first couple of days. By 6 days you will actually start to look smaller due to actual weight loss! There is swelling inside the actual sleeve that will last for up to three months (according to my doctor) and that will let you be able to eat a little more than you can in the beginning, but it is certainly not something that you can see from the outside.

Congratulations on the upcoming surgery, can't wait to have you join us on the "losers bench".

[Heatherr 149]

It was about a week for me before I looked normal in clothes. I am 1.5 weeks post now and I still have some swelling around the large incision where they take the stomach out. It's a little lopsided and noticeable if I am wearing something form fitting, but nobody would notice a difference in most of my normal clothes. I found great success using frozen bags of veggies as ice packs. It really helped with the surgical swelling.

[MeMeMEEE 206]

I had my surgery Monday so today is 6 days for me. My belly is still swollen but I don't think as bad as even yesterday. I haven't tried anything besides stretch pants on, have a wedding to go to today so I will have to - anxious myself to see how that goes!

[Indymom 132]

I'm going back to work on day 7 - I'm hoping that my swelling is mostly gone by then, although most of my co-workers know about my surgery anyway so I'm not worried about it.

[CoffeeBean 4]

Thanks to everyone for sharing their experience. I feel really good about keeping this secret from my co-workers.

[LisaM 3]

No problem keeping it a secret. I'm going back Monday and nobody will know nada! I have been telling people close to me that I don't want to tell that I had sleeve surgery, that I had hiatal hernia surgery. It's half true because my doc actually did repair one for me when he went in to do my sleeve. Never knew I had it, except it explains why I felt sick a lot after I ate in the past. It's a good excuse if you ever need it, the surgery is about the same, they go in laproscopic, 5 incisions.