Bariatric Surgery Center

Understanding Bariatric Surgery

Right After: Recovery

Right after your surgery, you'll be taken to the post-operative recovery area. Then, after you wake up, you'll be transferred to your regular room. Your nurses will place special compression stockings on your legs. At this point, you will also begin to move around.

You will stay in the hospital two or three nights. Depending on the physical requirements of your job, you'll be able to go back to work in two to six weeks.

Back at Home

You should be okay at home without any extra assistance. Just remember not to carry or lift anything more than 20 pounds for the first six weeks (if you've had an open procedure). Follow these guidelines:

  • Be sure to follow the diet plans we give you. Remember to sip and eat liquids slowly. Don't forget your vitamins!
  • Exercise every day. Walk for 15 minutes, resting when necessary.
  • Participate in normal activities.
  • Use the stairs.
  • Shower carefully. Don't worry if your skin gets red around the staples. But do call the office if the redness becomes severe or you experience pain or drainage.

Routine Follow-up Appointments

Your first follow-up visit will be 7-10 days after surgery. Now is when your doctor removes the skin staples. You will also get a prescription for Trinsicon (an iron and B12 supplement). And while you're here, we'll work with you on preparing to transition from a liquid diet to a soft diet. We'll also review the lifestyle changes you should be incorporating, including exercise and eating "techniques."

Your second follow-up appointment will be four weeks later. If you have your gallbladder, we will give you a prescription for Actigall to help prevent gallstones during the early, rapid phase of weight loss.

Your third visit after surgery will be four weeks after your second appointment. If everything is okay, we will schedule your next appointment for four months later. This brings you to six months after surgery. Six months after that we will see you for your "first year after surgery" appointment. After that, you will come in once a year for routine blood work and prescription refills.

Initial Diet

It will take about 9-11 weeks for you to progress to solid foods. All along you will choose low-sugar, low-fat foods and drinks. Here are the guidelines for your new way of eating:

More information about gastric bypass diets

You'll also always take supplements to make up for nutrients that you no longer absorb in the bypassed parts of your stomach and intestine.

Sometimes certain foods will make you vomit or feel uncomfortable. This could be caused by several factors, so wait awhile and try that food again. You will find out, through trial and error, which foods work for you. Introducing new foods one at a time will help you to know which foods cause problems. Some of the more difficult foods include:

  • Tough meat, especially red meat
  • Milk products (some people develop a milk intolerance)
  • Carbonated beverages
  • Breads
  • Pasta and rice
  • Fatty, fried foods

Dumping Syndrome

Dumping syndrome results from food passing too quickly from the stomach into the small intestine. Symptoms include rapid heartbeat, nausea, feeling cold/clammy, and possibly diarrhea.

To prevent dumping syndrome:

  • Do not drink liquids with meals. Wait until 30 minutes after a meal to start sipping calorie-free, non-carbonated beverages.
  • Avoid concentrated sweets, such as candy, cookies, and ice cream. The symptoms of dumping syndrome will likely be an unwelcome reminder that you have not made good menu choices. However, with time after surgery, you may no longer experience these symptoms.