What to Expect After RNY and Sleeve Gastrectomy?
What Happens After Surgery?
Immediately you will notice a difference in the amount and type of food you can eat. You will receive nutritional counseling to help show you the dos and don’ts. Since the amount of food you can eat will be much less, it becomes very important to eat the right types of food to be sure your body gets enough nutrients. Daily vitamin and mineral supplements will be necessary.
Exercise is important. Most people find that as the weight comes off after surgery, it becomes easier to exercise. Then, as they exercise more the weight comes off even more. It’s like a reverse snowball effect: as a snowball rolls downhill it goes faster and grows bigger – but instead of a snowball getting bigger, it is you getting smaller and healthier! We recommend that our patients exercise at least 30 minutes a day at least 5 days a week.
It is reasonable to expect to lose about 60 percent of your excess body weight after surgery, although this can be much higher or lower depending on compliance with proper diet and exercise. Most patients stabilize at their new lower weight between 1 and 2 years after surgery, although dramatic weight loss can often be seen within the first few weeks to months.
Weight-related medical problems may be alleviated or eliminated after surgery. Such conditions include diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux, and weight related depression. Significant weight loss may also decrease your risk of heart disease and some types of cancer.
Weight loss surgery is not without risk. The risks of surgery must be weighed carefully against the benefits of weight loss. Any major surgery carries risks of anesthesia, bleeding, infection, blood clots, pulmonary embolism – any of these can be minor or very serious including death. In addition, Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy Surgery carries specific risks, including but not limited to: hernia, gallbladder problems, bowel obstruction, and leak or narrowing along the staple lines or at the anastomosis (where the bowels are hooked back together in the gastric bypass).
Lifelong supplementation of vitamins and minerals must be taken to prevent nutritional deficiencies such as anemia and osteoporosis. Women of childbearing age must avoid becoming pregnant during the first 1-2 years after gastric bypass surgery. Nutritional deficiencies during the rapid weight loss period after surgery could harm the developing baby. At Atlanta Bariatrics, you and your doctor will carefully review the risks weighed against the benefits of surgery for your particular situation.