Frequently Asked Questions
How long does bariatric surgery take and how long will I be in the hospital?
We reserve approximately two hours for the surgery. Some of the time is preparation for the procedure by the Operating Room staff. The actual surgery takes about one hour. Immediately following surgery, you will be brought to the Recovery Room. You will be in the Recovery Room for one to two hours. When you are fully awake you will be taken to your hospital room.
Most people who have laparoscopic bariatric surgeries are in the hospital for one to two nights. Your surgeon and the hospital will provide you with more information about what to expect during your hospital stay.
Are there nutritional consequences associated with weight loss surgery?
The bypass surgery causes food to bypass a part of the digestive tract. As a result, some nutrients are not absorbed quite as well as before. Also, with any weight loss surgery procedure, patients are eating much less food after surgery than they were before. Therefore, they are taking in less vitamins and minerals. There is a risk of nutritional deficiencies. Lifelong supplements of multivitamins, vitamin B12, and calcium with vitamin D are important following Bariatric Surgery. The need for long-term follow-up evaluation is required. You will need to follow the monitoring schedule set up by the bariatric team.
Do you vomit all the time after bypass?
No. If you follow the instructions, take small bites, chew, chew, chew, and take your time, you should be fine.
Do you have diarrhea all the time after bypass?
No. Some people are more sensitive to hidden sugars than others. If you turn out to be one of those people, reading food labels can help avoid that problem.
What do you eat after surgery...will it be baby food?
No baby food. Patients eat a well-balanced diet of real food. Avoid fried foods, sweets, and refined sugars. This is the lifestyle that should be adopted. The most important instruction after surgery is to follow the post-operative diet exactly as it is written. Drink and eat slowly. Do not skip ahead to foods before it is time for them. Initially, your “new” stomach will be able to hold very little food. After a gastric bypass or sleeve operation, the small gastric pouch is held together by very delicate tissue and sutures/staples. The pouch will not have the strength to survive being overfilled with food for at least three to four weeks. It is absolutely critical not to overfill the pouch. To do so may cause it to rupture, which could result in a life-threatening infection. Overstuffing your pouch after a gastric band could cause slippage of the band, a potentially serious complication.
Questions? E-mail us.