FAQ

Weight loss surgery limits food intake. If you feel nauseated or sick on a regular basis, it may mean that you are not chewing your food well or that you are not following the diet rules properly.

You should contact us if this problem persists. Vomiting should be avoided as much as possible. It can cause the small stomach pouch to stretch. It can also lead to slippage of part of the stomach through an adjustable band, which would reduce the success of the operation. In some cases, it would also require another operation.

If your surgery is performed laparoscopically, patients typically spend 24 – 48 hours in the hospital. It takes most patients about 1 -2 weeks to return to work and a month to six weeks to resume exercising. In the case of open surgery or if there are complications, recovery may take longer.

Weight-loss results vary from patient to patient, and the amount of weight you may lose depends on several things. You need to be committed to your new lifestyle and eating habits. Obesity surgery is not a miracle cure, and the pounds won’t come off by themselves. It is very important to set achievable weight-loss goals from the beginning. A weight loss of 1/2 to 1 Kg a week in the first year after the operation is possible. Twelve to eighteen months after the operation, weekly weight loss is usually much less if any. Your main goal is to have weight loss that prevents, improves, or resolves health problems connected with severe obesity.

At this stage there are no randomized control trials comparing results of laparoscopic adjustable banding with gastric bypass.  However extensive studies of the literature would suggest that gastric bypass does have significantly better weight loss with resolution of co-morbidities compared to laparoscopic adjustable banding. 

A recent meta analysis in JAMA (Oct 13^th 2004, vol. 292 #14) by Buchwald, found the gastric bypass was associated with approximately 68% excess weight loss, as compared to 50% excess weight loss with adjustable banding.  Approximately 75% of patients with gastric bypass will achieve good to excellent weight loss as opposed to 50% of adjustable gastric banding.

The potential rewards of gastric bypass need to be weighed with the increased risks of this procedure.

Check-ups are a normal and a very important part of the weight loss surgery follow-up.

The weight loss surgery does not affect or hamper physical activity including aerobics, stretching and strenuous exercise.

That is not always the case. As a rule, plastic surgery will not be considered for at least a year or two after the operation. Sometimes the skin will mold itself around the new body tissue. You should give the skin the time it needs to adjust before you decide to have more surgery.

You will. You may not get enough vitamins from three small meals a day. At your regular check-ups, your specialist will evaluate whether you are getting enough vitamin B12, folic acid, and iron.

You should be able to take prescribed medication. You may need to use capsules, break big tablets in half or dissolve them in water so they do not get stuck in the stoma and make you sick. You should always ask the doctor who prescribes the drugs about this.

Order only a small amount of food, such as an appetizer. Eat slowly. Finish at the same time as your table companions. You might want to let your host or hostess know in advance that you cannot eat very much.

Alcohol has a high number of calories. It also breaks down vitamins. An occasional glass of wine or other alcoholic beverage, though, is not considered harmful to weight loss.

At 6 weeks post surgery, you may eat most foods that don’t cause you discomfort. However, because you can only eat a little it is important to include foods full of important vitamins and nutrients such as those recommended by our surgeon and/or dietitian. If you eat foods that contain lots of sugar and fat or drink liquids full of “empty” calories, such as milkshakes, the effect of the weight loss surgery may be greatly reduced or cancelled.

Let us know before surgery if you have a tendency to constipation. There may be some reduction in the volume of your stools, which is normal after a decrease in food intake because you eat less fibre. This should not cause you severe problems. If difficulties do arise, let us know as soon as possible.