Facing the prospect of weight loss surgery can be overwhelming, but ultimately fulfilling. This questions section can help you learn more about what to expect with bariatric surgery and the recovery process, giving you the tools you need to get started on the right track.
The down time after surgery will depend largely on the surgical option you choose. However, most procedures are laparoscopic and thus minimally invasive. Specifically:
Expect full recovery after three to five weeks.
As a safety precaution, you will not be permitted to drive until you are fully finished with narcotic pain relievers. While this will vary on a case by case basis, medication use generally ends after about 24 hours.
During surgery, you will be placed under general anesthesia, and will not be able to feel any pain. There may be mild to moderate pain during the recovery process, but this will be regulated and managed through the use of prescription strength pain relievers.
Yes. However, most doctors suggest waiting one year to 18 months after surgery before attempting to get pregnant to avoid complications.
You should be able to take most medications after surgery, and should not have any complications in doing so. Initially, your doctor may suggest crushing pills or taking medications in a liquid form.
This is one of the more common bariatric surgery questions. Immediately after surgery, you should not feel hunger. However, this sensation may return around one week after your procedure. It is important to continue to follow your doctor’s recommended diet.
Weight loss may happen quickly, or it may take time. Your body will adjust to a decreased stomach size and your appetite will be under control directly following your surgery, but you will need to follow your post-surgery diet indefinitely. Should you return to poor eating habits and a lack of exercise, you may put some or all of the weight you lost back on.
Depending on the amount of weight lost, many bariatric surgery patients do indeed experience excess skin after surgery. The amount, if any, will vary from patient to patient.
You may lose hair after bariatric surgery. This condition, known as telogen effluvium, means you are not eating enough protein. We suggest a high amount of protein in your diet. You can also take biotin (OTC vitamin) to reduce hair loss. The effects are not permanent.
In general, bariatric surgery patients should be on a full liquid diet for the first two weeks following surgery. After this point, a partial liquid diet must be maintained over the next one to two weeks.
No, you should not snack between meals. Common snacks are generally unhealthy and can add hundreds of calories to your day, ultimately slowing or stalling your weight loss.
Yes, in moderation. After surgery, absorption in the stomach will be vastly different, leading to potential health issues with excessive alcohol consumption. Remember, alcohol has many calories so less alcohol will help with weight loss.
While suggestions will vary from patient to patient and doctor to doctor, most physicians will urge patients to take multivitamins, calcium, vitamin B12 and iron.
Yes, you will meet with a nutritionist before surgery. A nutritionist can help you analyze your diet and teach you how to eat before and after your surgery in order to see maximum results.
In general, bariatric surgery can be performed as early as the late teens with no upper age limit. We have done the procedure on 80 year old patients. Serious health risks can accompany this kind of surgery so every patient is reviewed on a case by case basis.
Yes, insurance does cover bariatric surgery in most cases. However, this is plan-dependent. Before getting started on the path to surgery, be sure to speak with your insurance provider to learn the specific features of your plan and the coverage limits you may face.
In the event your insurance does not cover bariatric surgery OR you wish to bypass insurance requirements, the costs of self-pay procedures are as follows:
Note that these amounts cover everything the day of surgery including surgeons, anesthesia, hospital charges (labs/x-rays), and overnight stay if necessary.
If you have additional bariatric surgery questions you can register for the online seminar or contact us by phone at 256.840.5547 (Albertville) or 256.571.8734 (Guntersville).
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