Bariatric surgery is a life-changing procedure. While it can definitely help you lose weight, the surgery itself is just the beginning of your journey. What happens, in the long run, depends largely on you and your commitment to changes.
Life after surgery will be different. There are things you have to do and avoid. Our specialists at New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery in Knoxville want you to know the dos and don’ts after bariatric surgery.
The Dos
Follow the dietary recommendations.
After surgery, you will need to gradually progress from a liquid to a solid diet. This gradual progression of diet allows your body to adjust to changes.
Before you can get solid food again, you will go through different diet phases for 9 to 11 weeks. These phases would include a clear liquid diet, pureed foods, and soft foods. During these phases, it’s important that you drink and chew your food well, drink plenty of liquids between meals, and get enough protein (talk to your medical team to determine how much protein you should be consuming on a daily basis).
Take vitamin supplements.
Bariatric surgery will change how your body takes and absorbs food and nutrients. Hence, bariatric patients are highly encouraged to take vitamin supplements, on top of a nutrient-dense diet, to reduce the risk of vitamin deficiency.
Comply with follow-up appointments.
After your surgery, you will have follow-up appointments with our bariatric team. Make sure to keep those appointments.
In these visits, our team will discuss with your diet, physical activities, and possible changes in areas where you may need help.
The Don’ts
Drink alcohol.
Alcohol is one of those things that are not recommended after bariatric surgery. It’s high in calories and takes up a lot of space in your precious stomach. The surgery can also cause alcohol to be rapidly absorbed by the body, leading to potential intoxication.
A diet high in fatty foods.
Fatty foods can make you nauseous and will only defeat your efforts of sustaining weight loss.
Fatty foods like sausage, bacon, whole milk, and hard cheeses could make you feel sick and may lead to dumping syndrome.
Dumping syndrome occurs when the food leaves your stomach too quickly and gets “dumped” into the intestine. Symptoms of dumping syndrome include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, lightheadedness, and diarrhea.
Taking NSAIDs.
The use of NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen, Aspirin, and Naproxen Sodium are highly discouraged.
With the reduced size of the stomach, taking NSAIDs increases the risk of creating serious damage to the stomach pouch and may lead to gastric ulcers.
Not sure if bariatric surgery is right for you? Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to get started with us.
The New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery is part of Premier Surgical Bariatrics in Knoxville, Tennessee. New Life is affiliated with the Parkwest Center for Bariatric Surgery, part of Covenant Health Bariatric Services.
References:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dumping-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20371915
https://www.everydayhealth.com/weight/diet-dos-and-donts-after-weight-loss-surgery.aspx