Expected weight loss after surgery

    Description

    Weight-loss surgery may be considered successful when:

    • You lose at least 50% (half) of your excess body weight. (Excess body weight refers to how much above your ideal body weight you are.)
    • Medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, high cholesterol, and gastroesophageal disease (GERD) improve or go away.
    • You keep this weight off for at least 5 years.

    Your weight before surgery, your age, your gender, your overall health, your genetics, and which weight loss surgery is done all play a role in how much weight you lose.

    Surgery alone is not a solution for losing weight. It can train you to eat less, but you still have to do much of the work.

    If you expect to lose a lot of weight and keep it off, you will need to follow the exercise and eating guidelines that your doctor and dietitian gave you. Stay motivated and commit to following these guidelines. These are the key factors in your overall long-term success.

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    Weight loss: how fast and how much?

    How much and how fast you may lose weight will vary between people and between the different weight loss surgeries.

    After gastric bypass:

    • Many people lose more than one half of their excess weight.
    • Much of your weight loss will likely occur in the first 6 months.
    • Most weight loss occurs by 12 months after surgery.
    • It is usual to gain some weight back after the first year. It is very important to stay with the eating and exercise guidelines to prevent additional weight regain.

    After vertical sleeve gastrectomy:

    • Many people lose one half or more of their excess weight. Weight loss usually stops after a year after surgery.
    • The sleeve will get larger as time goes by, and you have to be careful not to eat as much as you can.
    • Most people do not lose as much of their excess weight as they would after gastric bypass surgery.

    After adjustable gastric banding:

    • Weight loss should occur slowly over 2 to 3 years.
    • You can lose about 1 to 2 pounds (.45 to .9 kg) per week.
    • You may lose up to 35% to 50% of your excess weight.
    • The final weight loss may not be as large as with other weight loss operations. However, this may be enough for some people.
    • It is important that you return to see your doctor on a regular basis.
    • The band will need to be adjusted by your surgeon 4 to 5 times in the first year after surgery.
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    Review Date: 1/30/2018

    Reviewed By: John E. Meilahn, MD, Bariatric Surgery, Chestnut Hill Surgical Associates, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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