Making the decision to have Bariatric Surgery is not a simple thing, it probably took you a long time to reach this point and hopefully you’ve spent part of that time analyzing your options in the hopes of choosing the best possible care available to you. There is no way around it; your life will change significantly after surgery. Here are some of the things you can expect:
Recovery time
Total recovery time greatly depends on the type of surgery you have. With the gastric sleeve for example, patients can start walking the same day; gastric bypass operations take a little more time, but the patient can start walking the next day. In any case, what is most important is to strictly follow your medical team’s instructions; never improvise, never skip any steps and never stop listening to your doctor. Altering medical instructions may compromise your recovery and ultimately your results.
A very different diet, especially the first weeks
A comprehensive plan to solve obesity always includes a pre-surgical phase, so you probably started following a strict diet days or weeks before your surgery. After the procedure, you can expect additional phases which are very important; you will start by having only clear liquids and will gradually progress to eating solid food.
When the time finally comes for you to eat whole foods again, your diet will be very different from the one you had before starting your program. The liquid diet you will follow prior to your surgery, and the progressive one you will be on after, will prepare you for your new portions and will also clean out your palate. The changes in your body will soon be noticeable and if we believe the success stories of thousands of patients, these changes will be your best motivation!
A wardrobe by phases
It’ funny but a lot of weight loss surgery patients don’t stop to think about their wardrobe! You will first start noticing a change in how your clothes fit; waist bands will be loose, shirts won’t be as tight and believe it or not the time will come when everything in your closet will be too big for you. So the best thing to do is to plan your budget and your wardrobe in phases; buy a few basic pieces that can be altered as you lose weight. Depending on how much weight you have to lose you will have several months or up to a year to save and buy a new wardrobe in your ideal size. A new haircut, some accessories that give a little variety to your outfits or something as simple as a new belt are useful in these months of transition.
People will talk.
Many patients report being surprised by the reactions and comments of some of the people around them. Sometimes those you least expect are supportive and happy to see you get leaner and healthier, while others may still question your decision and sometimes make comments that are out of place. In these cases it’s useful to have some phrases in mind that go with your personality and serve as a response to well-meaning questions and those that aren’t so much! “Yes I do eat very small amounts, but I always feel satisfied and energized,” “I’m not really afraid of gaining back weight because I have the support of a great medical team that is guiding me at every stage”, “thank you for your concern, I am not worried because my doctor keeps a close eye on me and doesn’t let me go without all the nutrients I need”. Answers like these will put those who worry about you at ease and may help your possible critics see you in a different light.
Try to remember that the weight loss process does not end with surgery, it actually starts with it. You need time and support to cope with all the changes you will go through. It is essential that you turn to your health care team, your circle of friends and family and your support group to successfully complete each phase of your program; it is also important that you keep all your medical and change of diet appointments.
Try to live your process to the fullest, because the plan is that you never have to go through it again! After weight loss surgery you should feel liberated, optimistic, full of energy and ready to share new experiences with those around you!
If you think that your time has come, don’t hesitate to call us. For a free evaluation call LIMARP International Center of Excellence for Obesity at 664) 686 2542 or fill out a contact form at LIMARP.
