Fast Track surgery, also known as enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS), is the way we care for you before, during, and after your operation, so your body recovers faster and with less discomfort. It is not a separate operation. It comes with every weight-loss operation Dr. Ahmed Abdelsalam performs: sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, one-anastomosis gastric bypass, SADI-S, and revisional surgery.
Each step is based on international research on enhanced recovery. Together, they help you get out of bed sooner, drink sooner, and go home after one night.
Before surgery
- No long fasting. You can eat until 6 hours before surgery and drink clear fluids, such as water, until 2 hours before.
- We recommend a carbohydrate drink before surgery. It keeps your energy up, eases hunger and thirst, and helps your body cope better with the stress of surgery.
- We explain every step to you in advance, so you know exactly what to expect.
During surgery
- The operation is done by laparoscopy (keyhole surgery) through small cuts, under general anesthesia.
- Pain is controlled with several medicines that work together (multimodal pain relief), so you need fewer strong painkillers.
- Local anesthetic is injected at each small cut to numb the area and reduce pain when you wake up.
- No drain and no urinary catheter, so you can move freely from the start.
- The muscle-relaxing medicine used during anesthesia is reversed quickly with a medicine called sugammadex, so you wake up clear-headed and breathe well.
After surgery
- You receive medicine to prevent nausea.
- You start drinking 2 hours after surgery.
- You get out of bed within 2 to 3 hours.
- If you need extra pain relief, some patients use a pain pump (patient-controlled analgesia, or PCA), which lets you give yourself a small, safe dose by pressing a button.
- Most patients go home after one night.
After you go home
- We call you or check in on WhatsApp regularly, so you are never alone with a question.
- Protein shakes start early, from the fifth day.
- Soft protein foods, such as egg whites and chicken liver, usually start after 7 to 10 days, and most patients are back to an almost regular diet after about 4 weeks.
- Follow-up visits are at 1 week, 1 month, 3, 6, and 12 months, then twice a year, in the clinic or by video consultation.
What are the benefits?
- Less pain and nausea.
- Drinking, moving, and eating sooner.
- A lower risk of blood clots and chest infections, because you are not lying in bed for long.
- Home after one night, and back to your daily life sooner.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fast Track safe?
Yes. It follows international enhanced-recovery guidelines and is used by bariatric centers around the world. You go home only when Dr. Ahmed is happy with your recovery.
Will I be hungry or thirsty before surgery?
Much less than with old-style fasting. You can eat until 6 hours and drink clear fluids until 2 hours before surgery, and the carbohydrate drink helps too.
Will I have a drain or a urinary catheter?
No. This lets you move freely and get out of bed within a few hours.
How is pain controlled?
With a combination of medicines and local anesthetic at the small cuts. If you need more, a pain pump (PCA) lets you control your own pain relief.
When can I go home?
Most patients go home after one night, and we stay in touch with you by phone or WhatsApp.
Book your consultation
Call or WhatsApp +201000606733 · WhatsApp to book. Our clinics are open from 5 to 9 pm: Mohandessin on Sunday and Tuesday, New Cairo on Monday, and Sheikh Zayed on Wednesday. Video consultations are available if you live far away or abroad.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Ahmed Abdelsalam, Associate Professor of General and Laparoscopic Surgery, Kasr Al Ainy, Cairo University.
