What To Expect Following Bariatric Surgery

Since bariatric surgery is a major surgical procedure that can have a profound impact on your life, it is important to understand what to expect from the surgery itself and life following it.

The Recovery Process

Following the two to three days you will spend in the hospital after surgery, you will be on a strictly liquid diet for a few weeks. Since your stomach is healing and adjusting to the restrictions imposed by the surgery, you will have to very slowly work your way up to eating solids again, which can take as long as six weeks. Even when you switch to solid foods, your portion sizes will be considerably smaller, with an emphasis on consuming as much protein as possible per small meal. During this period, you should also avoid strenuous activity while your wounds heal.

Ongoing Nutritional Support

It is important to understand that bariatric surgery requires you to make lifelong adjustments to how you eat. The smaller portions are not a temporary change related to recovery. Rather, you will have to commit to eating smaller meals that are rich in protein and micronutrients for the rest of your life. In addition, you will most likely have to take vitamin supplements daily to ensure your body receives enough vitamin B, vitamin D, calcium, iron, and folate.

Behavioral and Emotional Support

Committing to these long-term changes in eating habits can be challenging, especially if you have struggled with emotional eating or other eating disorders prior to the surgery. We encourage our Woodinville patients to seek ongoing behavioral and emotional support immediately post-surgery and for as long as needed after bariatric surgery. This type of support—offered by psychologists, counselors, or coaches—can help tremendously as you enter a new lifestyle that requires new coping mechanisms to control triggers and other stressful life situations.