Post-Operative Care

Individual follow-up appointments and monthly support groups

Patients are asked to commit to five years of medical and nutrition follow-up appointments with the surgeon and the clinical staff, and also to attend monthly support groups. This commitment is a key factor in the success of our patients.

After the first year, appointments with your surgeon and staff occur annually, however, patients may request an appointment at any time before the annual visit.

Nutritional support

Patients have a consultation with one of our nutritionists following surgery, to get help adjusting to their altered digestive system. Diet in the days following surgery is initially limited to:

• sugar-free liquids
• gradually soft foods are introduced
• finally solid foods are introduced

Patients often find that eating only a little bit of food makes them feel full. They are instructed to eat small amounts slowly several times a day.

Vitamin supplements

Because gastric bypass changes the digestive process, lifelong nutritional supplements are essential to prevent malnutrition. Patients must take daily multivitamins in addition to B12, iron and calcium supplements. A complete detailed list will be furnished by the surgical weight management team.

Weight loss following surgery

The greatest weight loss usually occurs in the first year to 18 months following surgery. Five years after the procedure patients have usually lost 50 to 75 percent of their excess weight. After two years, our patients have averaged a weight loss of 106 pounds. Some patients regain a small amount of this weight, but few ever regain it all.

Body contouring

Eighteen to 24 months after surgery, many patients find that they have excess skin that exercise and muscle toning cannot fix. Our cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgeons can offer patients a variety of total body lift procedures that help contour the body to its new shape.