It varies from person to person. Generally, the hospital stay (including the day of surgery) can be one day for a gastric band and two days for a laparoscopic gastric bypass and gastric sleeve.
Our program follows our patients for life. We offer monthly support groups, as needed appointments with our mental health provider, scheduled appointments with our surgeon and dietitian.
Most doctors recommend that women wait at least one year after the surgery before a pregnancy. Approximately one year postoperatively, your body should be fairly stable (from a weight and nutrition standpoint), and you should be able to carry a normally nourished fetus. Consult your surgeon as you plan for pregnancy.
Many people think bariatric surgery will be followed by a long and painful recovery period. However, many patients report experiencing only discomfort and soreness rather than pain. Recovery does, however, vary from patient to patient, but like many other laparoscopic surgeries; discomfort is minimal.
As with any major surgery, there will be a recovery period. Remember that this is a necessary step, and the better care you take during recovery, the more quickly you’ll return to normal activity.