What to Expect After Weight Loss Surgery

Congratulations! You’ve made the commitment to live a healthier life by having weight loss surgery. Or, maybe it’s something you’re considering. Life after bariatric surgery will be different. Understanding what to expect will help you navigate the next steps.

Recovery Time

Your recovery time depends on your health before surgery and your type of procedure. At the Total Weight Loss Center, we offer sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass and modified duodenal switch procedures. These are minimally invasive procedures, which reduce recovery time. Each one requires an overnight hospital stay. Most people take one or two weeks off work to start the recovery process. It should not be much longer before you can get back to normal activities.

Expected Weight Loss

The amount of weight you lose and the time it takes to lose it depends on the procedure and your starting weight.

Weight Loss Averages By Procedure

• Sleeve Gastrectomy – 50%-60% of excess weight
• Gastric Bypass – 60%-80% of excess weight
• Modified Duodenal Switch – 70%-90% of excess weight

Improved Obesity-Related Health Concerns

When you successfully lose weight through bariatric surgery or another method, many obesity-related health issues improve or go away completely.

• More than 80% of diabetes cases resolve
• 75% of high blood pressure cases resolve
• 70% of elevated cholesterol levels normalize
• 90% of weight loss is maintained beyond 10 years

Possible Surgery Side Effects

As with every medical procedure, you may experience side effects. “The first week after surgery, you may have nausea, pain and fatigue,” explained Keenan Berghoff, MD, a bariatric surgeon and the medical director of the Total Weight Loss Center. “As you add more foods to your diet and continue recovering from surgery, you begin to feel better.” Always share any side effects with your doctor.

Your Post-Surgery Diet

Weight loss surgery significantly changes your day-to-day diet. For the first week after surgery, you’ll follow a high-protein, all-liquid diet. Over the next several weeks, you’ll follow the diet progression. You will gradually add new foods to your diet until you are eating regular food, but in smaller portions.

“We understand how difficult it can be to change eating habits you may have had for many years,” said Jackie Roth, RD, a Total Weight Loss Center dietitian. “We’re here to help you make that transition and are always ready to answer questions and provide support.”

Hear From Our Patients

Success Stories (videos):

• Brian Gets Back to Life
• Sheryl Makes All the Right Moves

Explore More

The Total Weight Loss Center offers surgical and medical weight loss options and weight management support. Find out more about our program.