Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What can I expect in the days after surgery?
Q: How long will it take to recover after surgery?
Q: How much weight will I lose?
Q: When can I resume exercise after weight loss surgery?
Q: Can the LAP-BAND® System be removed?
Q: Will I need plastic surgery for the surplus skin when I have lost a lot of weight?
Q: Will I feel hungry or deprived after weight loss surgery?
Q: What about pregnancy?
Q: Will I need to take vitamin supplements?
Q: What about other medication?
Q: What if I go out to eat?
Q: What about alcohol?
Q: Can I eat anything in moderation?
Q: Will I suffer from constipation?
Q: Will insurance pay for my surgery?
Q: I have type II diabetes, but I am not ‘that obese’. Can I still benefit from bariatric surgery?
Q: How do I prepare for surgery?
Q: How do I gain the most out of bariatric surgery?
Q: How soon can I get my surgery?
Q: What can I expect in the days after surgery?
A: You will be comfortable enough to be walking around and going to the bathroom by yourself on the day of surgery. Most patients describe the pain as similar to that from doing a hundred situps. The pain is well controlled by Tylenol (also called paracetamol in some countries). You will be started on a clear liquid diet starting 6 hours after surgery.
For the first two or sometimes three weeks, it is common to experience difficulty in swallowing liquids: they go down slowly and may cause discomfort. This is best controlled by taking small and frequent sips of fluids so that you remain well hydrated.
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Q: How long will it take to recover after surgery?
A: Most patients are discharged home the day after surgery, typically by 10 O’Clock in the morning. By the end of the 3rd day after surgery, most patients find that they rarely need to take pain medications. They are able to move around much more freely. Challenges with drinking enough fluids are likely to persist. For those patients without drinking difficulty, they could return to most normal activity or even work within a week to 10 days. In physically demanding jobs, it may be better to postpone returning to work.
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Q: How much weight will I lose?
A: Weight loss results vary from patient to patient, and the amount of weight you lose depends on several things. Weight loss surgery is not a miracle cure, and the pounds won’t come off by themselves. It is very important to set achievable weight loss goals from the start. The main goal is to have weight loss that prevents, improves, or resolves health problems connected with severe obesity.
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Q: When can I resume exercise after weight loss surgery?
A: You are encouraged to start activity from the day of surgery. It should not hamper physical activity, including aerobics, stretching, and strenuous exercise. The only caution is to limit activity of you feel pain or burning over any of the port sites.
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Q: Can the LAP-BAND® System be removed?
A: Although the LAP-BAND® Adjustable Gastric Banding System is not meant to be removed, it can be, in most cases laparoscopically. Surgeons report that the stomach generally returns to its original shape once the LAP-BAND® System is removed. After the removal, though, you may gain more weight.
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Q: Will I need plastic surgery for the surplus skin when I have lost a lot of weight?
A: That is not always the case. As a rule, plastic surgery will not be considered for at least a year after the operation since the skin will sometimes mold itself around the new body tissue. Give the skin the time it needs to adjust before you decide to have more surgery.
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Q: Will I feel hungry or deprived after weight loss surgery?
A: Bariatric surgery helps you eat less and feel full in two ways—first by reducing the capacity of your stomach, and second, by increasing the time it takes food to get through the digestive system. After a small meal, the amount of which varies from person to person, you should feel full. If you follow the nutrition guidelines when you choose your food and then chew it well, you should not feel hungry or deprived. Remember that weight loss surgery is a tool to help you change your eating habits.
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Q: What about pregnancy?
A: Becoming pregnant can be easier as you lose weight. Your menstrual cycle may become more regular. We recommend avoiding pregnancy for 18 months after surgery when your weight would have stabilized. Babies born after bariatric surgery tend to be healthier.
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Q: Will I need to take vitamin supplements?
A: With a sleeve gastrectomy, it is recommended that you take a multivitamin supplement daily as it is possible to not get enough vitamins from three small meals a day. For gastric bypass, you will additionally have to take Calcium with vitamin D; iron and B12. You will get annual blood tests for vitamin levels.
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Q: What about other medication?
A: We will usually make changes to your diabetes medications and your blood pressure medications upon discharge from the hospital. For gastric bypass, you will need to avoid taking aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain relievers because they may inflame the gastric pouch or cause ulcers.
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Q: What if I go out to eat?
A: Order only a small amount of food, such as an appetizer. Eat slowly. Finish at the same time as your table companions. You might want to let your host or hostess know in advance that you cannot eat very much.
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Q: What about alcohol?
A: Alcohol has a high number of calories and breaks down vitamins. An occasional glass of wine or other alcoholic beverage, though, is not considered harmful to weight loss.
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Q: Can I eat anything in moderation?
A: After your stomach has healed, you may eat most foods that don’t cause you discomfort. However, because you can only eat a little, it is important to include foods full of important vitamins and nutrients, as advised by your surgeon and/or dietitian. If you eat foods that contain lots of sugar and fat or drink liquids full of “empty” calories, such as milkshakes, the effect of weight loss surgery may be greatly reduced or even canceled.
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Q: Will I suffer from constipation?
A: There may be some reduction in the volume of your stools, which is normal after a decrease in food intake because you eat less fiber. This should not cause you severe problems. If difficulties do arise, your doctor may advise you to take a mild laxative and drink plenty of water for a while. Your needs will vary, but you should drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water a day. The loop duodenal switch may cause loose bowel movements, especially with consumption of carbohydrates.
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Q: Will insurance pay for my surgery?
A: Most insurance providers cover bariatric surgery in patients who meet certain criteria. Please check with your provider regarding your coverage. Our office staff can assist you in determining your coverage and eligibility.
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Q: I have type II diabetes, but I am not ‘that obese’. Can I still benefit from bariatric surgery?
A: There is now evidence to support the use of gastric bypass surgery in the treatment of type II diabetes in persons whose BMI fall between 30 and 35. Insurance approval is on a case-by-case basis.
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Q: How do I prepare for surgery?
A: Deciding that you need surgery for weight loss is the biggest challenge you have overcome. Start with some regularly scheduled exercise – start with as little as one minute a day but increase this gradually to 20 to 30 minutes daily. Two weeks prior to surgery, you will be started on a low-calorie (800 Kcal) diet – this is designed to make the liver smaller and make the operation smoother.
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Q: How do I gain the most out of bariatric surgery?
A: Follow the nutritional and exercise guidelines. In summary, take small portions, and avoid caloric liquids. And do 30 minutes of weight-bearing exercises, such as walking, daily.
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Q: How soon can I get my surgery?
A: Most often within one month of completing your preoperative testing and meeting the 6 months physician-supervised diet record required by insurance.