After Bariatric Surgery

If you are reading this and have undergone a bariatric procedure, congratulations! You have made a significant step in changing your life for the better. But as you probably know, your journey has just begun, and what you do over the next few months and years will be critical to your long-term success and weight loss results. Your surgeon will have provided details on what to expect and what they expect from you over the next couple of years. So please use the guide below as a complement to — not a replacement of, your post-surgical guidelines – practice-based instructions always come first!

Early Recovery

What you do in the first days and weeks after surgery will contribute to your long-term success. Follow your doctor’s orders carefully and remember the following:

Hospital Stay: Depending on the procedure, your operation may be performed on an outpatient basis, or you may have to stay in the hospital for a night or two (if there are no complications). During your recovery, you will be expected to do plenty of walking to increase your circulation and help speed up your recovery.  More on Hospital Stays.

Wound care: You will receive instructions on how to care for your wounds. Be sure that you wash your hands before handling the wound. When treating the wound and changing the dressing, be mindful of any strangely colored discharge or smells. If you notice either, call your surgeon immediately – this could be a sign of an infection. More on Wound Care.

If you experience an emergency, go to your nearest ER or call 9-1-1 immediately. For less urgent issues, contact your surgeon as soon as possible. The sooner you catch a problem, the less damage may be done.

Weight Loss Disease Resolution

The main objective for undergoing weight loss surgery is the improvement or resolution of co-morbidities or diseases that have developed because of morbid obesity. Over the long term, you should aim to reduce your dependence on the medications being utilized to treat these diseases.  You should also be able to enjoy becoming more mobile. All with your doctor’s approval, of course.

Immediately After Surgery: You will begin losing weight immediately after surgery, partly because of the restriction and/or malabsorptive benefits provided by the surgical procedure and partly because of the strict post-operative liquid diet program you will start immediately after surgery.

Long-Term: Long-term weight loss will depend on you following recommended lifestyle changes. If you are not losing weight, speak to your surgeon and/or dietitian, who will evaluate your eating habits and determine the best care plan for continued surgical weight loss and success.

Diet

After bariatric surgery, you will be placed on a strict dietary regimen. You will begin with a clear liquid diet, after which you will likely be advanced to progressively more solid diets. Eventually, you will resume normal food, but in lesser quantity, about six weeks after surgery. More on Diet After Weight Loss Surgery.

Bariatric Friendly Recipes: Eating well and receiving good nutrition after surgery is a key to success. There are many bariatric recipes out there, and Bariatric Surgery Corner looks forward to partnering with bariatric chefs to bring some of those here soon.

Nutritional Supplementation: Nutritional supplementation is important and necessary after surgery. You will work with your surgeon and/or dietitian to develop a supplementation plan that will work hand in hand with your diet, ensuring that you receive the proper nutritional intake for healthy weight loss. More about Nutritional Supplementation.

Hydration: We’ve been told that 64 ounces is enough water in a day, but this is unlikely to be the case. You probably need a lot more. Importantly, hydration is one of the best ways to lose weight and feel better, whether you’ve had bariatric surgery or not. Speak to your dietitian about your body’s requirements. More about hydration.

Exercise

Exercise is critical to recovery immediately after surgery and is an integral part of your lifestyle change and weight loss success in the long term. After surgery, the physical therapist or exercise specialist you work with will help develop an exercise plan to strengthen your muscles and maintain bone health and density. Remember, the cardio will make you sweat, and you’ll feel like you did a lot. However, you also need strength training as part of your weight loss program. To learn more about exercise after bariatric surgery, click here.

Going Back to Work

Depending on the weight loss procedure you undergo, you may be able to return to work within a few weeks (according to your surgeon’s protocol) from discharge. The amount of time spent recovering will depend on how strenuous your job is and whether your work requires heavy lifting. For more information on going back to work, click here.

Sex

You should be able to resume regular sexual activity after about six to eight weeks post-surgery. Your surgeon will give you a concrete timeline, depending on your recovery.  But when you can have sex is just as important as how sex will change as you lose weight. Bariatric surgery may be the catalyst for significant changes in your libido, desires, abilities, and may even change your relationship with a long-term partner. More on Sex after Weight Loss Surgery.

Hair Loss

You may lose some hair or experience hair thinning after surgery. This side effect is usually temporary and may reverse after weight loss stabilizes. Remember, if you were losing hair before due to male pattern baldness also known as androgenic alopecia, your hair loss may be permanent. More on Hair Loss after Bariatric Surgery.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy is possible after bariatric surgery. However, patients should wait for their doctor’s clearance before becoming pregnant. The amount of time to wait to start trying for a baby should be determined by your surgeon and is usually based on your recovery and weight loss progress – often 18 months to two years. There are thousands of bariatric babies out there, and you should speak to your bariatric surgeon, primary care physician, and OBGYN to understand more about a possible future pregnancy. More on Pregnancy after Bariatric Surgery.

Psychological Considerations

The psychological and emotional changes that may occur after weight loss surgery can be significant.  Not all of them may seem positive at first glance. Patients are encouraged to seek psychological support to ensure successful adjustment after surgery. More on Psychological Considerations after Bariatric Surgery.

Support Groups

Support Groups are fundamental to positive and successful adjustment after long-term weight loss. Most bariatric programs will have a comprehensive support group program. During these sessions, patients will learn tips and tricks to help with weight loss and overcoming any emotional, psychological, or social hurdles that may occur. Participating actively in a Bariatric Support Group is also a great way to meet new friends and create lifelong relationships. More about Support Groups and Finding a Support Group Near You.

Weight Regain

Weight regain is not uncommon after surgery. Depending on the procedure, some weight regain is perfectly normal. However, significant weight gain or big ups and downs may indicate complications or poor diet. Patients should seek the guidance of their surgeon and/or dietitian as soon as possible so the weight gain can be corrected and stopped. More on Weight Regain after Bariatric Surgery.