What to Expect After Bariatric Surgery
After the Laparoscopic Gastric Band
All patients will receive a swallow study (x-rays) after the surgery to confirm the proper placement of the band and the easy passage of the contrast through the band.
This procedure is typically performed as an outpatient surgery where patients will be discharged home on the same day as surgery. This is the usual, but if patients are higher surgical risk, any intra-operative issues, or Medicare patients will require an overnight stay in the hospital.
After the Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass or Sleeve
All patients will be admitted into the hospital. On the night of surgery, patients are closely monitored, receive special medicines for pain control, and undergo respiratory exercises to help prevent pulmonary issues. Patients are not allowed to have anything by mouth on the night of surgery.
In the morning after surgery, patients will receive a swallow study (x-rays) to rule out any leaks or issues with the gastric pouch, anastomosis, or bowel configuration. Labs will also be checked. If everything looks okay, patients will be started on their Stage I Bariatric Diet, started on oral pain medicines, and have their foley catheter removed.
The second day after the surgery, if the morning labs are okay, patients are tolerating their Stage I Bariatric diet, vitals are stable, and patients are able to ambulate well,, the patients are then discharged home from the hospital.
Follow up Schedule for Gastric Bands
Typically, patients are seen one week after the surgery to check wounds and assure that no new issues have arisen since discharge from the hospital.
After which, patient will return in one month to be evaluated potentially for their first gastric band adjustment. Thereafter, patients will return to see the surgeon every 4 to 6 weeks for potential needed adjustments.
In order to maximize chances of success with the band, at the 3rd and 9th post-operatively visits, patients may be required to visit the dietitian or psychologist to re-enforce all the pre-operative education on proper bariatric nutrition as well as potential difficulties with behavioral modifications and coping mechanisms.
After the first year of surgery, patients will broaden the frequencies between visits to every 2 to 3 months for adjustments. Nutritional labs will be studied. Throughout all post-operative visits, emphasis on complete compliance with the requirements of proper bariatric diet, continued routine exercise regimen, and keeping scheduled appointments with the surgeon is a MUST for the gastric band to be successful.
Follow up Schedule for Gastric Bypass or Sleeve
Typically, patients are seen one week after the surgery to check wounds. Next of several scheduled follow-ups will be at 6 weeks post-operatively. At this time, patients would have progress to the final stage of the bariatric diet at this point. Emphasis on compliance on the bariatric diet and routine exercise is also very important.
The other follow-up appointments will be every 3 months for the first year post-operatively, then every 6 months for the second year, and annually thereafter. In addition to diet and exercise emphasis, routine bariatric labs are checked periodically throughout this time.
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