Afterwards Weight loss surgery
You can usually leave hospital 1 to 3 days afterwards weight loss surgery. You’ll be able to start to return to your normal activities 4 to 6 weeks later.
But you’ll need to make long-term lifestyle changes to help make the most of your surgery.
Diet afterwards weight loss surgery
Afterwards weight loss surgery. You’ll be given a diet plan to follow after surgery.
These vary from person to person, but a typical plan is:
- first few days – water and fluids (for example, thin soup)
- first 4 weeks – runny food (for example, yoghurt or puréed food)
- weeks 4 to 6 – soft food (for example, mashed potato)
- week 6 onwards – gradually return to a healthy, balanced diet
You will also be advised to: Afterwards weight loss surgery.
- eat slowly, chew carefully and only eat small amounts at a time – particularly during the early stages of your recovery
- avoid, or be careful when eating, foods that could block your stomach, such as soft white bread
- take vitamin and mineral supplements
The charity WLS Info has more information about eating after your operation.
Exercise afterwards weight loss surgery
As well as eating healthily, you’ll need to exercise regularly to help you lose as much weight as possible after the operation. You may be given an exercise plan. This will usually involve increasing your activity levels gradually as you recover from surgery. Once you’ve fully recovered, you should aim to do regular activities that are intense enough to leave you feeling out of breath and make your heart beat faster, such as:
- brisk walking
- cycling
- gardening or housework
- swimming
Choose something you enjoy as you’ll be more likely to stick with it. Afterwards weight loss surgery.
Follow-up appointments
After weight loss surgery, you’ll be asked to attend regular follow-up appointments for the rest of your life. These appointments will usually be in a weight loss surgery clinic for at least the first 2 years, but eventually you may just need a check-up with a GP once a year.
Follow-up appointments may involve:
- blood tests to check your vitamin and mineral levels
- a physical health check
- advice and support about diet and exercise
- emotional or psychological support
What to Expect Afterwards Weight Loss Surgery
You can expect to lose a lot of weight. If you have a weight-related medical condition, like type 2 diabetes or sleep apnea, those conditions may improve. And almost all people who get weight loss surgery — 95% — say their quality of life improves, too.
You’ll want to get ready for the recovery and know what you’ll need to do to make the changes last.
How Much Weight Will You Lose Afterwards Weight Loss Surgery?
Ask your doctor exactly what you can expect. It may depend, in part, on what you weigh now and the type of surgery you get.
Sleeve gastrectomy is becoming a more popular weight loss surgery. People who get sleeve gastrectomy lose about 40% of their extra weight.
On average, people lose 60% of their extra weight after gastric bypass surgery.
Gastric banding is no longer a commonly performed weight loss surgery.
What Will the Recovery Be Like Afterwards Weight Loss Surgery ?
Most gastric bypass surgery is laparoscopic, which means the surgeon makes small cuts. That makes for shorter recovery time.
Most people stay in the hospital for 2 to 3 days, and get back to normal activities in 3 to 5 weeks.
If the surgery must be “open,” meaning the surgeon has to make a larger cut, healing takes longer.
What Are the Possible Side Effects?
There are potential short-term and long-term complications from having weight loss surgery. Long-term risks vary depending on the type of surgery. Approximately 40% of people experience some sort of complication. Less than 5% have serious complications. If you do have any problems that concern you, check in with your doctor.
Some common side effects include:
- Constipation is common after weight loss surgery. Your doctor can let you know how to handle it. Avoid granular fiber (Metamucil or psyllium), which can cause obstructions.
- Dumping syndrome happens after eating high-sugar meals after weight loss surgery. Sodas or fruit juices are often to blame. The sugary food rushes through the stomach and can cause nausea, vomiting, and weakness.
- Gallstones are common when you lose a lot of weight quickly. Up to 50% of patients will develop gallstones after gastric bypass surgery, and these are usually harmless. Sometimes, gallstones can cause nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. About 15% to 25% of people need surgery to remove their gallbladder after gastric bypass surgery.
- Wound infections can happen up to 3 weeks after surgery. Symptoms include redness and warmth, pain, or thick drainage (pus) from the surgical wound. Wound infections require antibiotics and sometimes further surgery.
What Are Some Health Benefits? Afterwards Weight Loss Surgery
After gastric bypass or certain other types of weight loss surgery, the health benefits often happen right away. For instance, your diabetes might improve dramatically. The same might be true of high blood pressure, arthritis, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, and other conditions.
Nutrition Afterwards Weight Loss Surgery
Weight loss surgery changes how your body handles food. It becomes harder to absorb certain nutrients, including:
- Iron
- Vitamin B12
- Folate
- Calcium
- Vitamin D
Lifestyle Changes Afterwards Weight Loss Surgery
You can get dramatic results from afterwards weight loss surgery. You’ll need to back those up with lifestyle changes to keep the pounds off.
These tips can help:
Eat small, frequent meals. The small stomach created by weight loss surgery can only hold so much. Eating large meals can cause problems. Many people with obesity are binge eaters. Adapting to eating smaller meals can be a challenge. Doctors usually advise against drinking during meals, because it can wash food out of the stomach too quickly and interfere with your feeling of fullness.
Commit to good nutrition. Ask a dietitian to help you create a plan that will get you all the nutrients you need.
Exercise. It helps you keep the weight off, and it’s often easier after weight loss surgery, because losing weight may have helped your joints.
If you’re not active now, take it easy when you get started, and gradually make it more challenging. Talk to your doctor about easy ways to begin. You may also benefit from working with a physical therapist or trainer.
Many weight loss surgery centers offer programs to help people shift to a healthier lifestyle before and after weight loss surgery.
Changes in Your Self-Image
It may take a while to get used to the new you and to adjust to the changes in your lifestyle. You might also realize how much you relied on food for comfort in the past, something that’s just not possible after surgery.
That’s normal. Consider talking to a therapist about it. You can also ask your doctor if there are support groups in the area for people who have had weight loss surgery. Meeting people who are going through the same changes helps a lot.
Changes in Your Relationships
When you lose a lot of weight, it can affect your relationships. For instance, if you usually socialize while eating and drinking, you may need to think of new ways of meeting up with family and friends that aren’t so focused on food.
