What to expect after surgery
Recovery and Weight Loss
The recovery period after having weight loss surgery is one of the most important steps in the weight loss process. After LAP-BAND® surgery or gastric bypass surgery, Dr. Nick and his staff will monitor your health and make sure you are not suffering from any complications.
Weight loss surgery will reduce the size of your stomach so that it will only be able to hold one to two ounces of food. Immediately following the procedure, you will be unable to eat so that your stomach and digestive tract can heal properly. After that, you will gradually return to a healthy diet.
While you are recovering for the first few days without food, you will have an intravenous line (IV) to give you the nutrients your body needs. After a few days, you will be able to drink liquids, followed by soft or pureed foods, and then regular, harder foods.
While you recover, you will eat very small meals that are easy for the stomach to digest. In the months following, eating too much may cause vomiting or chest pain caused by attempting to fit too much food into the small stomach pouch. As you progress with your recovery, you will learn exactly how much you can eat. You will feel full for longer and you will be able to control your dietary intake.
After Your Recovery
In addition to making sure you recover well from your LAP-BAND surgery or gastric bypass surgery, the Nicholson Clinic is committed to making sure your weight loss is permanent. We offer many support groups and options to help you cope with your new diet and lifestyle.
The success of your weight loss surgery relies on how well you maintain your body after your surgery. Through proper diet and regular exercise, you can expect to lose two thirds or more of the excess weight you are dealing with right now. With weight loss surgery, you can additionally resolve or improve:
- Type-2 diabetes
- Sleep apnea
- High blood pressure
- High blood cholesterol
Weight loss after surgery
Weight loss varies from person to person, but overall with LAP-BAND/REALIZE Band surgery, an average patient can expect to lose about 50 percent of excess body weight. This weight loss occurs over a period of two to three years, with the majority of weight loss occurring in the first year.
With gastric bypass surgery, patients with a BMI over 50 tend to lose about the same amount as LAP-BAND/REALIZE Band patients, about 50 percent of excess body weight. Gastric bypass surgery patients with a BMI under 50 often lose about 70 percent of their excess weight. Following a gastric bypass, our patients can expect to lose about three-quarters of their total weight loss in the first six months; the rest occurs by one year to 18 months.
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