The hospital stay varies from two to five days. Complete recovery is expected in two to four weeks.

Dietary changes:

• Most patients can eat a wide variety of foods. Bariatric surgery patients may eat red meat and breads only after six months have passed since their surgery, and always in moderation.
• Highly-concentrated, sugary foods can cause cramping.
• Patients should avoid snacks and high-calorie liquids.
• Patients cannot eat and drink fluids at the same time.
• Patients must chew their foods thoroughly and eat slowly.
• Daily vitamin supplementation is required.
• Some form of daily protein intake is necessary.

After weight-loss surgery, you will learn a new way of eating and how to choose the right foods to help avoid discomfort and maintain adequate nutrition and weight loss. You will lose weight rapidly for the first six to 12 months after surgery.  During this period it is very important that you maintain proper protein, vitamin and calcium levels.

Diet modification is necessary after surgery in order to:

• Prevent pain and vomiting caused by blockage of the opening from the stomach
• Promote healing of your “new stomach”
• Maintain the desired weight loss
• Remain nutritionally healthy

Most patients lose approximately 60 to 80 percent of their excess body weight (number of pounds over ideal body weight) over 12 to 24 months following surgery, after which their weight will reach a plateau.

After the very large weight loss that usually occurs within the first month after surgery, patients generally lose two to four pounds weekly during the first year following surgery. The number of pounds lost each week varies from patient to patient and is determined, in part, by the amount of excess body weight.

How well a diet and exercise regimen are followed will determine the long-term stability of every patient’s weight loss. After recovery, patients poorly tolerate sweets and fats. Sweets cause “dumping” which is a syndrome of abdominal cramps and sweating caused by sugary foods passing rapidly into the bypassed intestine. Fats are poorly absorbed due to the bypass and may cause gas distension and increased frequency of stools.