What Happens After Gastric Band Surgery?
If you are considering gastric band surgery to help you lose weight, it is important to know what to expect after the surgery. Recovering from the operation shouldn’t take long, but you will need to be prepared for some big changes to your diet after weight loss surgery.
1. Recovery:
You should be able to go home the same or following day after gastric band surgery, but you won’t be able to eat or to drink very much for the first 24 hours. After this, you can gradually start eating again according to your doctor’s instructions. The incision site might feel a little bit sore for the first few days and you will need to take it easy for a week or two while your body recovers.
2. Adjustments:
Your gastric band will need to be adjusted after it is fitted to ensure that it is providing the right amount of restriction for you. The level of restriction the band places on your stomach can be adjusted by injecting saline into the band to alter its size. Most people will have their band adjusted five or six times in the first year after the operation.
3. Diet and Lifestyle:
As with any form of weight loss surgery, you will need to make some changes to your diet and lifestyle to ensure that you lose weight after having your gastric band fitted. Your doctor or dietician will help you to come up with a good diet and exercise plan before the surgery. You should expect to eat less after the surgery and you should also try to stick to a healthier diet and get some regular exercise.
4. Weight Loss:
You could lose up to 50% of your excess weight after gastric band surgery, but everyone is different. If you stick to your new diet, you should begin to lose weight soon after the surgery.
5. Removal:
Most people will keep their gastric band for life, but the gastric band surgery is completely reversible if you decide to have it removed. The band can be removed with a second operation, but this can lead to weight gain. If you want to keep off the weight you have lost, it is usually best to leave the gastric band in place.
1. Recovery:
You should be able to go home the same or following day after gastric band surgery, but you won’t be able to eat or to drink very much for the first 24 hours. After this, you can gradually start eating again according to your doctor’s instructions. The incision site might feel a little bit sore for the first few days and you will need to take it easy for a week or two while your body recovers.
2. Adjustments:
Your gastric band will need to be adjusted after it is fitted to ensure that it is providing the right amount of restriction for you. The level of restriction the band places on your stomach can be adjusted by injecting saline into the band to alter its size. Most people will have their band adjusted five or six times in the first year after the operation.
3. Diet and Lifestyle:
As with any form of weight loss surgery, you will need to make some changes to your diet and lifestyle to ensure that you lose weight after having your gastric band fitted. Your doctor or dietician will help you to come up with a good diet and exercise plan before the surgery. You should expect to eat less after the surgery and you should also try to stick to a healthier diet and get some regular exercise.
4. Weight Loss:
You could lose up to 50% of your excess weight after gastric band surgery, but everyone is different. If you stick to your new diet, you should begin to lose weight soon after the surgery.
5. Removal:
Most people will keep their gastric band for life, but the gastric band surgery is completely reversible if you decide to have it removed. The band can be removed with a second operation, but this can lead to weight gain. If you want to keep off the weight you have lost, it is usually best to leave the gastric band in place.