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After weight-loss surgery - what to ask your doctor

Gastric bypass - after - what to ask your doctor; Roux-en-Y gastric bypass - after - what to ask your doctor; Gastric banding - after - what to ask your doctor; Vertical sleeve surgery - after - what to ask your doctor; What to ask your doctor after weight-loss surgery

Weight-loss surgery is done to help you lose weight and get healthier. After the surgery, you will not be able to eat as much as before. Depending on the type of surgery you had, your body may not absorb all the calories from the food you eat.

Below are some questions you may want to ask your health care provider about what will happen after you have the surgery.

Questions

How much weight will I lose? How fast will I lose it? Will I continue to lose weight?

What will eating be like after weight-loss surgery?

What extra vitamins or minerals will I need to take? Will I always need to take them?

How can I get my home ready before I even go to the hospital?

What types of feelings can I expect to have? Can I talk with other people who have had weight-loss surgery?

What will my wounds be like? How do I take care of them?

How active can I be when I get home?

Will I have much pain? What medicines will I have for the pain? How should I take them?

When is my first follow-up appointment after my surgery? How often do I need to see the doctor during the first year after my surgery? Will I need to see specialists other than my surgeon?

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Before weight-loss surgery - what to ask your doctor

References

American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery website. Life after bariatric surgery. asmbs.org/patients/life-after-bariatric-surgery. Updated February 2021. Accessed April 20, 2023.

Mechanick JI, Apovian C, Brethauer S, et al. Clinical practice guidelines for the perioperative nutritional, metabolic, and nonsurgical support of patients undergoing bariatric procedures - 2019 update: cosponsored by American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists/American College of Endocrinology, the Obesity Society, American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric surgery, Obesity Medicine Association, and American Society of Anesthesiologists - executive summary. Endocr Pract. 2019;25(12):1346-1359. PMID: 31682518 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31682518/.

Richards WO, Khaitan L, Torquati A. Morbid obesity. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 21st ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022:chap 48.

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Review Date: 4/12/2023  

Reviewed By: John E. Meilahn, MD, Bariatric Surgeon, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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