Gastric Sleeve recovery — week by week

What healing actually looks like — week by week — for gastric sleeve.

Recovery timeline

1. Hospital stay
   1–2 nights. Walking the day of surgery. Pain managed with IV then oral medication.
2. Week 1
   Clear liquids only. Most go home day 2. No lifting; walking encouraged.
3. Weeks 2–3
   Full liquids → pureed. Most patients return to desk work by week 2.
4. Weeks 4–6
   Soft solids. Activity increases gradually.
5. Months 2–6
   Solid foods (small portions). Average 50–70% of excess weight lost by 6 months.
6. Months 6–12
   Plateau approaches. Lifelong vitamin/mineral supplementation begins (B12, iron, calcium, D, multivitamin).
7. Years 1–2
   Skin laxity often emerges. Body contouring (post-WL surgery) commonly considered.

Quick reference

Back to work

2–4 weeks for desk; 4–6 weeks for physical work.

What's normal vs. what to call about

Some swelling, bruising, asymmetry, numbness, and tightness are expected in the first weeks. Sudden severe pain, fever above 101°F, drainage, spreading redness, or one-sided swelling that worsens after improving warrant a same-day call to your surgeon.

See gastric sleeve results across the recovery curve on the main Gastric Sleeve page.