Gastric bypass surgery is a common type of bariatric surgery offered to patients with advanced obesity whose previous attempts of losing weight have not brought satisfactory results. It’s a relatively straightforward procedure with life-changing effects. During the operation, a small part of the patient’s stomach is separated from the organ to create a small pouch, which is then connected directly to the small intestine, thus bypassing the remaining part of the stomach. These alterations significantly reduce the amount of the food that can be consumed at once and speed up the digestive process helping patients to lose weight quickly and effectively. But getting gastric bypass surgery is only the first step, how does life after bariatric surgery look like?
Post-Surgery Hospital Stay – When Can You Go Back Home After Gastric Bypass Surgery?
As with any other type of surgical procedure, patients’ health condition has to be monitored by healthcare professionals for some time after bariatric surgery for safety and proper recovery. With modern and minimally invasive laparoscopic surgeries, this post-surgery hospitalisation is shorter compared to traditional open surgeries – at KCM Clinic, patients can go home 2 days after their operation, which means they are discharged two days after the procedure.
How Long Does It Take To Recover After Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Surgery?
Bariatric patients whose procedure was carried out using minimally invasive methods can get back to their typical daily activities and work, with the exception of strenuous and physically demanding activities, as soon as one week after their weight loss surgery. This is possible thanks to limiting surgical invasiveness to a few small incisions used by the surgeon to insert the laparoscope and surgical instruments. As a result, the recovery progress is much quicker and the risk of infection is reduced to the minimum.
Getting back to normal life after weight loss surgery such as gastric bypass is not only about letting the post-surgery wounds heal, notwithstanding maintaining the right post – surgery diet is equally important. Changing eating habits is essential to let the stomach heal properly, but also to avoid weight regain caused by the same unhealthy diet choices responsible for the development of obesity in the first place. The transition to a more healthy lifestyle with a more balanced meal plan can be demanding and that is why patients are given a special bariatric diet following their weight loss surgery prepared by a qualified nutritionist.
What Can You Eat After Gastric Bypass Surgery?
Keeping a strict diet in the weeks directly following the bariatric surgery is extremely important for ensuring a balanced recovery and achieving desired results of the procedure. You’ll be given specific dietary recommendations at the clinic based on your nutritional needs, personal food preferences and health issues. There are also universal rules to follow after weight loss surgery, such as:
- avoid carbonated drinks, raw vegetables and foods rich in sugar;
- don’t start eating solid food right after surgery;
- instead of processed products, eat healthy and high protein foods;
- don’t drink alcohol and coffee or eat high calorie foods;
- follow the bariatric diet and dietary advice provided by your doctor.
What does the post-surgery bariatric diet look like?
- week 1: at this stage, your meals should consist of sugar-free liquids, you can also eat natural yoghurts and drink nutritional drinks and shakes;
- week 2: you can start adding foods such as thin soups and sugar-free puddings to your diet;
- week 3: you can now eat more types of food, including vegetables, eggs, fish, fruits and rice, among others, but it’s important to stick to soft and puréed foods;
- week 4: eating soft foods is still advised, but from this moment forward, you can start to slowly introduce more types of meals.
What to Expect After Gastric Bypass Surgery:
Weight Loss
While gastric bypass surgery is considered to be one of the most effective weight loss methods offered by modern medicine, achieving long term results requires determination and willingness to commit to significant life changes. Patients who commit to a healthy and balanced diet and exercise regularly can achieve a significant reduction in weight.
Health Effects
Obesity is a chronic disease that can lead to many adverse health effects for those suffering from it. As a result of weight loss surgery, obese patients can not only lose weight but also reduce the symptoms, the risk of developing diabetes, and the risk of premature death related to diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease, among others.
Wellbeing
Issues such as low self-esteem and lack of confidence are common among people who suffer from obesity and, in extreme cases, can lead to severe mental health problems such as depression and social anxiety. Excess weight can also restrict patients’ ability to be active and move around, making it impossible for them to lead a normal life and, in many cases, even perform basic everyday tasks. Thanks to bariatric surgery and the resulting weight loss, such people can experience a significant increase in their quality of life and self confidence.
Medication and Supplements
Diet changes and reduced daily food intake caused by bariatric surgery can sometimes result in vitamin and mineral deficiencies. As the body needs the right amount of nutrients to function properly, ensuring the sufficient nutritional value of food in bariatric patients’ diet is essential. A well-planned bariatric diet combined with vitamin and mineral supplements is an easy way to avoid deficiencies and provide your body with everything it needs to lose weight while staying healthy.
Getting Pregnant After Gastric Bypass Surgery
Obesity can be one of the causes of infertility issues, and in such cases undergoing weight loss surgery can be seen as a way to increase one’s chances of getting pregnant. Losing excess kilograms can help balance hormone levels and regulate the menstrual cycle. While bariatric surgery is not a universal path to curing infertility, it is one of the methods recommended by doctors depending on the patient’s diagnosis and the root of fertility problems. To give the organism time to heal after surgery and regain its stability, it’s recommended to avoid pregnancy for up to 12 months after the procedure.
Plastic Surgery After Gastric Bypass Surgery
Any loose skin left after quick and significant weight loss can be a big problem for patients who see bariatric surgery as a chance to improve their look and achieve their dream body shape. Some of the excess skin will tighten naturally over time, but there are many factors affecting the process, and its effects are not guaranteed. That’s why, while it’s not a requirement, following weight loss surgery with plastic surgery, e.g. a lower body lift or abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) surgery, can be an effective way to get rid of sagging skin.
Gastric Bypass Surgery at KCM Clinic
Our team at KCM Clinic in Poland uses modern minimally invasive surgical methods to help patients from all over the world to achieve their goal of a healthier and slimmer body. With years of experience in treating obesity and patients from around the world, we can provide effective and safe procedures to help you to battle excess weight and improve your health to live a more healthy and active life! Learn more about the benefits of going abroad for weight loss surgery, and let us help you reach your weight goals.
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