Life After Surgery
Life after surgery is usually both exciting and challenging. Your participation in the process and commitment to lifestyle changes are the keys to long-term success. We’re here to guide you and to help increase the likelihood you will achieve your goals.
Short-Term
Here are a few short-term changes to expect:
- Weight loss surgery typically requires you to spend at least one night in the hospital, but the length of your stay will depend on the type of procedure you have and your recovery.
- After surgery, you will receive specific instructions for nutrition and activity. You will likely be on a liquid diet for a few days to a few weeks, slowly adding in soft and pureed foods before returning to more regular food.
- You should be able to return to your routine in a few weeks.
- You will continue to have follow-up visits with your team for guidance on diet and exercise.
- You’re encouraged to attend our support group meetings to gain insight and inspiration from other weight loss surgery patients.
Long-Term
Remember, weight loss procedures are not a cure for obesity, but tools to obtain significant weight loss. To enjoy lasting success, you must be willing to change your lifestyle permanently. Adopting new eating and exercise habits will be crucial. Eating smaller, healthier portions of food and daily exercise will also help the weight disappear and be essential to keeping it off long-term.
If food has been a central focus of social activities and interactions, you will need to develop new interests—and maybe even new friendships—that do not revolve around eating. Likewise, trying new activities and types of exercise will help you resist the temptation to be sedentary.
Life after surgery is usually both exciting and challenging. Your participation in the process and commitment to lifestyle changes are the keys to long-term success. We’re a team, so we want to help increase the likelihood you will achieve your goals. These new behaviors could include:
- A diet packed with protein and vegetables, but low in carbohydrates and sugars.
- Delaying pregnancy plans for 12 to 18 months.
- Exercising at least 30 minutes per day.
- Medication to prevent digestive tract ulcers and gallstones.
- Vitamins to prevent nutritional deficiencies.