10 Tips to Help with Your Bariatric Surgery Recovery

It's normal to feel overwhelmed after Weight Loss Surgery, especially during the first few weeks when your diet and lifestyle will be very different from what you're used to. Linking in with others going through a similar experience and remaining in close contact with your professional team will help you feel supported and less alone throughout this process.

Stay connected to your friends and family; don't be afraid to ask for help.

As excited as you likely are to get into your new life post-surgery, rest will be crucial to your recovery. Although we recommend starting some exercise when you can (see tip 5), take your time with it.

This applies to any daily activity, including returning to work, doing household chores, and lifting anything that may place additional strain on your stomach stitching.

Generally, clinicians advise against lifting more than 5 – 10 kg in the first week post-surgery. However, this will be discussed with you by your treating team. Even though you might feel quite capable, and from the outside, it can look like not much has happened - rest assured, you've just had major surgery. Your body is working hard on healing, adjusting, and managing the metabolic changes about by the surgery. So slow and steady will win the race.

One of the critical components of Bariatric Surgery recovery is your exercise regime. Exercise will help you improve your overall health by preserving lean muscle mass, improving the strength of your joints and bones, and boosting your metabolic rate. You must follow the direction of your bariatric healthcare team and increase your exercise at a pace that promotes your recovery.

Generally, exercising gently, 10-15 minutes a few times a day, is advised around 2 weeks post laparoscopic surgery. However, you should avoid any heavy lifting, strength training, and balance exercises until cleared by your treating team.

You should start with low-impact exercises such as walking, bike riding, and swimming, and start strength training around 6 weeks post-surgery to help rebuild lean muscle mass. This is safest when your exercise physiologist prescribes your regime, who knows your situation and has some experience with Bariatric Surgery.

Protein plays a key role in recovery and weight maintenance after Bariatric Surgery. Protein is the building block for muscle cells, which helps decrease muscle mass loss and helps maintain adequate metabolism function. Protein also aids in wound healing by producing immune, muscle and skin cells.

Since Bariatric Surgery reduces your stomach capacity, protein-rich foods should always be the priority and be eaten before the rest of the meal. This has so many far-reaching effects it is the number one rule to stick to.

When reintroducing solid food after surgery, you must take it slow and stop eating before you feel full. It's easier said than done, as you'll likely be excited to eat a wider range of foods again after being on a liquid or pureed diet for so long.

Devouring your food will increase the risk of overeating, vomiting, and pain and potentially cause injury to your surgical sites. You should wait at least 30 seconds between each mouthful of food, taking small bites and chewing your food well before swallowing. Aim to eat your meal within 20 to 30 minutes, slowing down and taking breaks if you notice yourself eating too quickly.

Attending your checkups with your doctor and healthcare team for the long term after Weight Loss Surgery is vital to ensure that you are healing correctly, losing weight at an expected rate, and mentally coping with the lifestyle changes.

It is strongly recommended that you also see a dietitian during this recovery process to help you meet your nutrition requirements, adhere to your diet phases and provide you with the best chance at a fast recovery. Patients who maintain strong connections to their bariatric team over time have benefits shown to have the best long-term outcomes. Simple tweaks and checks can make all the difference, even when you feel things are tracking just fine.

This tip may be difficult to implement if you're used to drinking with your meals. After Bariatric Surgery, you should avoid drinking fluids with your meals and wait around 30 minutes before eating before having anything to drink.

Mixing food and liquids can increase the risk of "dumping syndrome" by forcing food out of the sleeve or pouch too soon. You will also feel hungry again sooner as the pouch or sleeve will be emptied, triggering hunger even though you have just eaten a meal.

Alcohol digestion is impaired after Bariatric Surgery (especially gastric bypass surgery), meaning your tolerance is lower, and alcohol has a stronger and quicker effect.

Alcohol is also a common gut irritant and may cause stomach upset. You must follow the guidelines given to you by your treating team and avoid alcohol for the time recommended. As alcohol is high in calories and provides no nutritional value or protein, it is best to avoid it entirely after surgery.

Lastly - it's well known that alcohol is an addictive drug. It can become a problem after Bariatric Surgery when one addiction replaces another. If you are increasing the amount you drink over time, get help early so you can explore the underlying factors that may need to be worked through with your psychologist.

The road to weight loss with Bariatric Surgery continues once the surgery has been performed. Even after the initial surgery recovery and return to daily life has resumed, continual habit change is essential for long-term surgery success and maintaining weight loss.

In the first stages of recovery – focus on adequate rest, following your texture-modified diet guidelines, and taking action to aid the healing of your surgical site. In the later stages of your recovery, focus on eating adequate protein, attending your follow-up appointments, and managing your mental health through your support systems.

We aim to provide a wide range of resources, from nutrition care to articles and support groups, so you can feel as comfortable as possible. It can be a difficult decision, but we are here to help every step of the way