Overview

Dietary restrictions, life style modifications, and medications have all been shown to be ineffective in providing morbidly obese patients with significant and sustained weight loss. However, it is important that only after conservative methods of weight loss have been tried, one should consider weight reduction surgery. It is important that all patients take an active role in educating themselves about the various surgical options available, as well as the overall benefits and risks of surgery. Any concerns, comments, or questions should be addressed to the surgeon and his bariatric team.

Hospital Stay: The hospital stay (depending on a type of the procedure performed – Lap Band, Sleeve Gastrectomy or Gastric Bypass) spans generally from the same day discharge to 2-3 days. However, the length of a patient’s hospital stay varies according to the patient’s individual situation. The patient can be discharged if his/her condition is stable, pain is adequately controlled, and the patient tolerates a liquid diet.

Recovery: Patients are expected to walk on the eve of surgery in order to hasten recovery as well as avoid various complications. In addition, adequate pain management and frequent use of an incentive spirometer, a blue breathing device used to keep lungs expanded, contribute greatly to recovery. Patients should expect some difficulty with daily activities for several days following the surgery. Therefore, patients are encouraged to arrange for a support system in which others can offer needed assistance. The rule of thumb is that the patient’s condition improves with each passing day. Patients generally return to work one to four weeks following the surgery.

Post-op Instructions

Vitamins and minerals: Regardless of the type of bariatric surgery, everyone should take multivitamins on a regular basis to ensure adequate levels of vitamins and minerals needed for the body to function properly. All patients who undergo the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass must be especially careful with their vitamin intake since all foods bypass most of the stomach as well as the first part of the small intestine, the duodenum, thereby causing a decrease in the absorption of many vitamins and minerals ie. B12, folic acid, calcium and iron. Following the surgery, routine blood work will be performed on a regular basis (at three and twelve months from surgery and thereafter on a yearly basis) to assess nutritional status.

Exercise Program: Light exercise, such as walking, should begin immediately after surgery. Vigorous exercise will be gradually introduced in 6-8 weeks. Exercise will not only keep you feeling well and energized, but it also helps burn fat and calories. For many people, returning to physical exercise is an important step toward feeling better. It is well documented that the benefits gained from a combination of dieting and exercising are immeasurably more than those achieved from dieting or exercising alone. It cannot be emphasized enough that diet and exercise are partners and must be treated as such. All patients are required to walk daily for the first several weeks following surgery. At approximately one month following surgery, patients are encouraged to join a gym and to perform moderate level exercise for at least thirty minutes four to five times a week. Patients should set realistic goals and increase their activity gradually. Maintaining a record of one’s exercise schedule has shown to be helpful.

Lifestyle Modifications: The surgery is not a magical cure. Only with a strong commitment to lifestyle modifications can one acquire permanent weight loss. Lifestyle modifications include an overall change in one’s eating habits. One must always check the caloric and fat content of all foods before eating any product. One must commit to eating two or three wholesome balanced meals every day and to refrain from snacking and drinking high-calorie liquids. Exercise must play an integral role in one’s daily activities.

Follow-up Visits: The significance of keeping all follow up appointments cannot be underscored enough. Follow up appointments are an integral part in acquiring as well as maintaining the weight loss. At each visit, a patient’s weight loss, nutritional status, and overall health are assessed. Routine blood work is performed at various visits. There is a strong correlation between weight loss success and following closely with one’s bariatric surgeon.

Support Groups and Support Others-Educational Symposium: It is our belief that the more educated our patients are in terms of obesity, its complications and obesity surgery, the more compliant and knowledgeable they will be. This will contribute to a better overall outcome. Therefore, Dr. Gorecki and his bariatric team have undertaken to provide innovative, interesting and educational seminars to our patients at each of our monthly support group meetings. The meetings and seminars are open to the public and all patients as well as their supportive members are welcome to attend. We also added an additional monthly support group exclusively for post operative patients to give our patients an opportunity to share personal experiences, feelings, and discuss relevant issues. All support groups are led by our Psychologist Dr. Dianne Briton.