Navigating Life After Bariatric Surgery: What Lies Ahead

Questions about how your life changes are answered here

Are you contemplating bariatric weight loss surgery? For those who have struggled with obesity with no long-term success from dieting or various weight loss programs, surgery may be an option. While the surgical procedure itself is a significant milestone, the steps after are important and require specific care and attention.

Do I need to stay in the hospital? Following your surgery, patients typically spend one night in the hospital, and some are even able to go home the same day. Your surgical team will use a number of pre-surgical medications and numbing medicines during surgery that will help manage your discomfort. After surgery, you will be given medications to help alleviate pain and nausea as well.

Can I walk after surgery? We strongly encourage patients to be up and about, walking around, and doing normal household activities immediately after surgery. In fact, staying active as much as possible works to alleviate gas pain and reduce the risk of complications. Strenuous activity is limited at first, but after about 4 weeks, you will be cleared to do any activities you desire. We encourage light physical activities like walking, using an elliptical, or stationary bike. After your initial restrictions are lifted, we encourage gradual advancement of your activities with a focus on safety and injury prevention.

What does my diet look like at first? You receive education and guidance on the proper diet for when you go home. Your diet starts with a liquid diet phase, with an initial goal of at least 4 ounces per hour of fluids, and every two weeks you advance through the phases until you are back up to completely solid foods. Each phase is designed to support your nutrition and balance it with what your body is able to tolerate.

How much weight can I expect to lose? Several factors influence your weight loss, including the type of surgery, your initial weight, adherence to dietary and physical activity recommendations, and your metabolism. The speed of weight loss can also vary, and patients often have natural ups and downs, and plateaus that can be very normal and natural. On average, the percentage of expected total body weight loss varies by procedure:

Percentage of excess body weight Loss by procedure:

• Sleeve gastrectomy (SG): 50-60%+
• Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB): 60-80%+

Most of the weight loss for most patients occurs within the year and a half. Beyond that, the focus shifts to maintenance and small tweaks to help keep you on track for long term success.

Will I have improvements to my health in addition to my weight loss? For many surgery patients, health improvements are an even bigger victory than the actual weight loss. Bariatric surgery can alleviate or resolve many weight-related comorbidities. Often, you will be able to reduce or even eliminate some of your medications. Some of the common medical problems that are often improved are:

• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Hyperlipidemia
• Sleep Apnea
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
• Arthritis

In conclusion, bariatric surgery can be a dramatic, life changing event. While the surgery is important, it is just the beginning of the story. It is vital to understand the aftercare required to make sure you maximize the benefits of the surgery and allow the changes to fuel your long-term success.

Bariatric Surgery Seminar, May 29

Want to know more about the Saint Alphonsus Weight Loss Surgery program? Join me on Wednesday, May 29 at 5:30pm for a one-hour, in-person seminar where I’ll be discussing bariatric surgery, who qualifies, and the many benefits. I’ll also answer questions and share next steps for those who think surgery may be an option.

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