Thoughts About Life After Weight Loss Surgery
Bariatric, or weight-loss surgery, is one of the most unique surgical processes in the medical world. While the procedure itself adheres to the same principles as other abdominal general surgeries, the process of getting to surgery, as well as the aftercare process, is completely different.
Bariatric surgery aftercare is just as important as the procedure itself. No matter what surgery the patient chooses, the sleeve, bypass, or band, it is not a magic bullet. The surgery will not be a sufficient lifestyle change alone. The effectiveness of the support structure around you will truly make a significant difference.
We Split Aftercare Into Three General Phases
The first is the immediate recovery phase. This is where patients will be getting used to living life without some of the foods and drinks they were once accustomed to. This is also where patients will begin taking care of themselves after being discharged from the hospital and starting on their journey to recovery and better health. Some of the key topics during this time include:
- Your hospital stay
- Going home
- Returning to work
- Proper wound care
- Pain and discomfort
- Follow-up schedule
- Signs of a complication / When to call us
The second phase of our aftercare program revolves around the weight loss process and support. This is usually the first year and a half to two years after surgery, before you have reached your goal weight. Some of the topics we must commonly discuss include:
- Diet progression after surgery
- The weight loss diet
- Grocery shopping tips
- Vitamin Supplementation
- Exercising
- Support / Support Groups
- Drinking alcohol and smoking
Finally, the third phase is the long-term maintenance phase. This comes around 18-to-24 months post-surgery and represents the weight-loss-maintenance portion of the process. This phase will last you the rest of your life. Maintaining significant weight loss can be straightforward if you follow postoperative guidelines, or can be very difficult if you do not follow recommendations. Key thoughts during this period include:
