What You Need to Know About Your Weight Loss Surgery Recovery

Weight loss surgery is a large undertaking and it’s not right for everyone. There’s a lot to know about the process in general, and many things you will need to do to prepare, both before and after surgery. For many people, bariatric surgery recovery is a particular point of concern, especially for those who have never before experienced a major surgical procedure.

However, the days and weeks following bariatric surgery can be easy to navigate, particularly if you are prepared for what’s to come. This is what you need to know about weight loss surgery recovery.

Time in the Hospital

While most bariatric procedures are minimally-invasive, they are still surgeries and, as such, will involve recovery. Depending on the surgery in question and the health of the patient, duration in the hospital will span around one to three days. In this time, nurses and doctors will provide guidance to facilitate comfort and recovery. If there were any complications during surgery, you may require an extended stay.

Pain Management

It is normal and expected to experience some discomfort after surgery.  We employ the latest strategies to minimize your pain after surgery.  A multi-modal pain medication strategy is started before your surgery and continued after surgery to help lessen the need for opioid medications as you recover.  Your doctor will often prescribe a combination of acetaminophen, gabapentin, anti-nausea medications to control discomfort after surgery.  Most patients will start oral liquids and medications several hours after surgery.

Recovery at Home

After discharge from the hospital, you will be able to continue recovery at home. Prior to your discharge, your physician will discuss any necessary guidelines, like dietary rules and advice for movement.

In preparing for your recovery at home, talk to your doctor about any potential challenges, like requiring stairs to reach your bed, the accessibility of your bathrooms, and any complications when bathing. Do your best to mitigate these kinds of things as much as possible to avoid complications in your recovery.

Exercises for a Speedy Recovery

While the body generally heals at its own speed, there are some things you can do to accelerate the process. These techniques are encouraged to preserve good circulation, build muscle mass, and improve lung capacity during the early days following surgery.

Immediately after your surgery, begin by dangling your legs over the edge of your bed and standing at your bedside. Several hours after surgery, begin to walk around a small area. While this may be painful or stressful to your body, movement is key to weight loss surgery recovery and to prevent complications.

In addition to standing and walking as soon as recommended, breathing exercises may also be suggested. Breathing as deeply as possible, holding your breath for at least two seconds, and letting it out can help expand your lungs and reduce the risk of contracting pneumonia while your immune system is recovering. Deep breathing can also improve circulation and minimize any lingering effects of anesthesia.

Activities to Avoid

Even as your incisions heal and your strength returns, there are some movements you should avoid until your physician clears you for more rigorous physical activities. Do not:

• Lift amounts over around 20 to 30 pounds
• Participate in any activity that requires a push and pull motion, like vacuuming
• Take part in any physical job duties, like stocking shelves, carrying boxes, or any kind of potentially dangerous lifting
• Sit or stand still for too long; moving is a big part of preventing blood clots and too much time spent sedentary can be dangerous

After four weeks, you will likely be healthy enough to take on these kinds of activities, but be sure your doctor approves before moving forward.

Follow-Up Appointments

Follow-up appointments are a big part of ensuring you are recovering properly. As such, be sure to schedule follow-ups as soon as your doctor suggests. Initial follow-ups are often scheduled two to three weeks after surgery, with additional appointments at six weeks, six months, twelve months and then yearly.

Preparing for a surgical procedure can be overwhelming, but knowing what to expect in bariatric surgery recovery can make the process easier. If you are considering weight loss surgery, we are here to help. Get in touch with CCS Bariatrics to learn more about our programming.