Bariatric Surgery and Alcoholic Beverages

Since we are in a period of rapid weight loss after bariatric surgery, we need to stay away from alcoholic beverages. Even a small amount of alcohol we intake can cause toxicity during this period.

There are many reasons why alcohol consumption is not desired after the operation. First of all, alcohol is a high-calorie liquid carbohydrate. Even if we take a small amount of alcohol during this period, it will cause rapid drops in our blood sugar.

An alcoholic beverage we consume in one glass has a high-calorie content enough to meet our daily calorie need. The body does not use the calories it gets from alcohol.

It has no effect on the metabolic rate and its breakdown is quite difficult. Long-term alcohol consumption disrupts the metabolism and causes you to regain weight.

Along with this, most of the products consumed with alcohol (nuts, chips, appetizers, and desserts) contain high calories and are definitely not recommended to be consumed during this period.

The liver is in charge of metabolizing alcohol. The effects of alcohol on the liver are quite high. Excessive alcohol intake will cause destruction in liver cells.

How long after sleeve gastrectomy can alcohol be consumed?

• The completion of the stomach’s healing process should be awaited.
• Using it earlier will cause ailments such as gastritis.
• Consuming alcohol 6 months after the operation is a personal preference.
• It is strongly recommended to avoid alcohol consumption for 1 year.
• The first 1 year is the period when weight loss is the fastest. This period is when one is most sensitive to the sensitizing effects of alcohol.

The effect of alcohol on those who have had sleeve gastrectomy

• The first 1 year is the time when one is most sensitive to the numbing effects of alcohol.
• Since foods pass into the intestine very quickly after the operation, the feeling of numbness spreads rapidly through the body.
• It has been observed that after bariatric surgery, patients feel the effects of alcohol faster with less alcohol, and the sobering up period takes longer than normal. For this reason, make sure to have someone with you when consuming alcohol.
• In the initial recovery periods, alcohol use will cause vomiting and nausea in the stomach.
• Vomiting can cause inflammation and bloating.
• It has been observed that alcoholic beverages, due to their high sugar rates, retain water in the body and cause Dumping Syndrome, which is a painful and undesirable result.

Alcohol use disorder after sleeve gastrectomy

• Addiction can be observed in some patients after surgery.
• It is a globally observed situation that the eating disorder of obese individuals turns into alcohol addiction after surgery.
• Individuals who eat less and have a lower sense of pleasure tend to become addicted to things they enjoy.
• Many of these patients state that they struggled with alcohol problems before the surgery.
• For this reason, it is very important to adjust the dose of alcohol. We should try to keep the alcohol consumption dose to a minimum.
• Individuals with an alcoholism problem can only successfully benefit from obesity surgery after undergoing alcoholism treatment.
• Bariatric surgery procedures cannot achieve success in obese individuals who do not complete alcoholism treatment.

Which Alcohols Should We Consume?

• Alcohols are divided among themselves according to their production methods: those produced by fermentation and those produced by distillation.
• We need to stay away from fermented alcohols. Just as the consumption of carbonated drinks is forbidden after surgery, fermented drinks are also forbidden exactly like this group.
• For example, since beer is both a carbonated and fermented product, it is absolutely not suitable for us to consume.
• Fermented drinks are beverage groups that show a significant effect on the gastrointestinal system. After sleeve gastrectomy, reflux is highly strained by fermented drinks.
• We should stay away from alcohols with high carbohydrate content, for example, raki; these are the alcohol groups whose breakdown is the most difficult. Their excretion from the body is also quite difficult.
• Beverages produced by distillation are excreted from the body a little more easily and their caloric values are lower.

How Much Alcohol Can We Consume?

• Plan in advance how many glasses you will drink and try to stick to the plan. Make sure your stomach is full.
• The recommended amount is a maximum of 1 glass per week.

Caloric Contents of Alcohols

	Calories per 100 grams	Portion Size	Portion Calories
Beer	42	1 Bottle (330 cc)	140
Wine	85	1 Glass (125 cc)	100
Gin	231	1 Glass (100 cc)	231
Raki	335	1 Double (85 ml)	250
Whiskey	275	1 Glass (50 ml)	138
Champagne	126	1 Glass (100 ml)	126
Tequila	275	1 Glass (50 ml)	138
Rum	249	1 Glass (50 ml)	125