Jump to: What is gastric sleeve surgery? | Why take Mounjaro after a gastric sleeve? | Practical guidance | Take home message
You can take Mounjaro after gastric sleeve surgery, but waiting until your weight loss plateaus after surgery is recommended.
However, research on this specific combination is limited, as clinical trials for Mounjaro excluded patients with prior bariatric procedures.
Recent data shows that gastric sleeve surgery (vertical sleeve gastrectomy) now accounts for around 70% of all bariatric procedures in the UK.
While the surgery effectively reduces stomach size and hunger hormones, some patients may experience weight regain over time as other drivers to eat, such as psychological and habitual triggers, aren’t addressed with the surgery.
Healthcare providers are increasingly considering medications like Mounjaro to help manage weight regain or inadequate weight loss after bariatric surgery.
However, caution is advised due to the lack of research on people taking Mounjaro after gastric sleeve.
What is gastric sleeve surgery?
Gastric sleeve surgery removes approximately 80% of the stomach, creating a banana-shaped ‘sleeve’. This significantly impacts how your body processes food and manages hunger in two ways:
- Physical restriction: The smaller stomach limits food intake
- Hormonal changes: Removing part of the stomach reduces ghrelin production (the ‘hunger hormone’)
Research shows that patients typically lose 60-70% of their excess weight within two years after surgery. However, about 20% may experience weight regain or complications in the long term.
Why take Mounjaro after a gastric sleeve?
Mounjaro works by mimicking two hormones – GLP-1 and GIP – that help regulate appetite and blood sugar.
This mechanism is different from but potentially complementary to, how gastric sleeve surgery affects your body.
The interaction between Mounjaro and a surgically altered digestive system isn’t fully understood. However, the medication may help enhance the surgery’s effects by providing additional appetite control and blood sugar management.
Some patients might experience more pronounced side effects due to their altered digestive system. Common side effects include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
The potential benefits of taking Mounjaro after gastric sleeve surgery include:
- Managing weight regain: If you’ve experienced weight regain years after surgery, Mounjaro might help get you back on track
- Enhanced appetite control: The medication can help reinforce the reduced hunger signals from your surgery
- Better blood sugar management: This is particularly beneficial if you have type 2 diabetes
However, important considerations include:
- Timing: Wait until your weight loss plateaus after surgery before considering Mounjaro
- Absorption: Your altered digestive system might affect how you process the medication
- Protein intake: Ensuring adequate protein becomes even more crucial
- Nutrition: You might need to consider a comprehensive multivitamin, alongside eating a diet based on whole foods, as you may struggle to meet your nutritional needs with an altered digestive system while losing weight
- Side effect management: You might need more careful monitoring of gastrointestinal effects
Practical guidance
If you’re considering Mounjaro after gastric sleeve surgery:
1. Consult your healthcare team
- Discuss timing with your bariatric surgeon
- Have a thorough medical assessment
- Create a monitoring plan
2. Focus on nutrition
- Prioritise protein intake (aim for 120-150g daily)
- Eat a diet based on whole foods and minimise ultra-processed foods
- Consider a multivitamin
- Stay hydrated
- Eat slowly and mindfully
3. Monitor your progress
- Track your weight and aim for a sustainable weight loss of 1-2lbs per week
- Document any side effects
- Keep food and symptom diaries
- Maintain regular check-ups
Take home message
While taking Mounjaro after gastric sleeve surgery is possible, caution is advised due to the lack of research in the area.
Remember that unlike surgery, Mounjaro’s effects typically stop when you discontinue the medication.
Therefore, it’s essential to develop sustainable habits while using the medication to maintain your results long-term.
Second Nature’s medication programmes
Second Nature currently provides Mounjaro as part of our Mounjaro weight-loss programme.
Why should you choose Second Nature over other medication providers if you’ve decided to try Mounjaro or Wegovy (assuming you’re eligible)?
For peace of mind.
Second Nature has worked with the NHS for over 6 years, providing weight-loss programmes across the UK.
While our Wegovy and Mounjaro weight-loss programmes are private and not currently used by the NHS, we’ve built the programmes focusing on scientific evidence, patient safety, and data security.
We hope that our 6+ years of working with the NHS and building a track record of effective weight-loss results will give you peace of mind to give us a try.
