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Recovery
Weight loss surgery is a pretty quick procedure, usually taking only an hour or two to perform. You’ll be placed in one of our patient care rooms after surgery. Most patients are up and walking with assistance the same day of surgery, and are usually discharged the day after. Amazing how something so life-changing can happen so fast!
When you’re discharged, you’ll be given specific instructions regarding your diet. Please follow them closely to reduce the risk of complications. In the first few days after surgery, it may also be advisable to have a friend or family member around to help you.
Follow-Up
Regular follow-up is key to ensuring maximum weight loss and reducing side effects and complications. For most patients, follow-up appointments are scheduled with a primary care physician at two weeks, six weeks, four months, 10 months, and 18 months after surgery. Annual follow-up visits are also recommended.
Diet
The changes made to your gastrointestinal tract will require permanent changes in your eating habits that must be followed for successful weight loss in your new life after surgery. It is important to remember that these guidelines will be different depending on the type of procedure you have. What is most important is that you follow your program’s guidelines.
Eating after weight loss surgery will be much different than before! That is why we have a registered Dietitian on staff to help you with any questions you may have. Through Mercy Hospitals of Bakersfield’s weight loss program, you get free nutritional support for life.
Though every patient is different, here is a typical post-surgery diet:
● Clear liquids only for 1-3 days after surgery
● Full liquids (protein drinks, skim milk, cream soups, etc.) are allowed 4-14 days after surgery.
● Soft and blended food (mashed potatoes, low-fat dairy, soft meats) are allowed in weeks three to six.
● From week six on, a regular diet of low sugar, low fat, low calorie solid foods.
The following are some of the generally accepted dietary guidelines for a healthy diet after surgery:
● When you start eating solid food, it is important to chew your food thoroughly and eat very slowly. Wait two to three minutes after swallowing before putting the next bite of food in your mouth. You will not be able to digest steaks or other chunks of meat if they are not ground or chewed thoroughly.
● Don't drink fluids while eating. They will make you feel full before you have eaten enough food. Fluids consumed with meals can lead to feeling hungry sooner after a meal.
● Don't eat items with sugar if they have more than 3 to 5 grams per serving size.
● Avoid carbonated drinks, high-calorie nutritional supplements, milk shakes, foods high in fat, and foods that have no nutritional value.
● Avoid alcohol.
● Limit snacking between meals.
Exercise
After surgery, you’ll begin to lose weight, and fast. The only problem is, it’s not all fat you’re losing. When the body loses weight rapidly, it also loses muscle. Muscle gauges and controls are metabolism. So you don’t want to lose muscle, you want to gain it. A great way to do that is through regular exercise.
Studies show that weight loss surgery patients who exercised moderately for 200 or more minutes per week lost about 13 pounds more than inactive patients. Remaining active also reduces depression and anxiety and leads to overall general health.
Since it’s recommended that you lose as much weight as you can prior to surgery, starting an exercise regimen in the weeks leading up to your procedure is a good idea. Start simple; just a 10-minute walk twice a day is enough. Don’t do anything too strenuous without consulting your doctor first.
Once you’re fully recovered from surgery, you’ll want to ramp it up a bit and see what that new body of yours can do. You’ll be amazed. Most patients are able to perform physical activities they never thought possible, like swimming, hiking, and biking. What’s your ideal sport? If you have one, think about going out and purchasing the equipment for it before your surgery. It’ll give you something to work towards.
Side Effects
Weight loss surgery causes the body to lose excess weight at an extremely rapid pace. Since the body is adjusting to this transformation, you can probably expect a few side effects, most of which can be easily remedied. These include:
● Headaches/Dizziness
Most headaches and dizzy spells are caused by dehydration or lack of food. Be sure to drink plenty of water and eat small portions throughout the day.
● Nausea/Vomiting
Eating too fast, not following your diet plan, or not chewing food properly are the main reasons for vomiting and nausea.
● Dehydration
Keep water near you at all times and sip regularly to avoid dehydration
● Constipation
Constipation is a very common side effect that you might experience for the first few months after surgery. This is because you’re eating a diet that is high in protein and low in fiber. Simple over-the-counter remedies are useful in treating constipation.
● Dumping Syndrome
Dumping syndrome can occur when weight loss surgery patients eat foods high in sugar. Symptoms include weakness, light-headedness and nausea and usually pass within an hour.
● Diarrhea
Diarrhea is common for weight loss surgery patients in the weeks following the procedure. It should resolve on its own about a month after surgery. Continued diarrhea is often a result of poor diet.
● Lactose Intolerance
After surgery, you may find yourself intolerant to dairy products, even if you weren’t before. If you become lactose intolerant, there are several over-the-counter medications that may ease symptoms.
● Hair Loss
Don’t be alarmed if you notice a few extra hairs in the sink or shower after your surgery. As your body reacts to its new digestive tract, you may lose some hair. This condition is completely normal and usually resolves itself around nine months after your procedure.
● Excess Skin
Most patients who undergo weight-loss surgery lose a lot of weight. Typically patients are left with large folds of excess skin, along with loose muscles and sometimes localized pockets of unsightly fat tissue. In such cases, plastic surgery procedures, or lipoplasty (liposuction), can help to reshape the normal structures of the body in order to improve appearance and self-esteem.
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