Following the surgery, a patient will be in the hospital for 4-6 days, given
that there are no serious complications. That person will be expected to walk 1
mile within 2 hours of surgery as often as possible and remain sitting up from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00
p.m. while in the hospital bed. Considering the vicinity of the
incision on the body, this is no easy task.
Weight loss starts at about 30-60 pounds within the first month, depending
on the patient’s size. After that, it varies from person to person, but 20
pounds per month is to be expected, until the patient is at his or her pre-obesity
weight.
The person will no longer be able to eat sugar, greasy, fatty foods, or
drink caffeinated or carbonated beverages or alcohol, and only approximately
three ounces of food or drink per sitting. Physical sickness (known as Dumping
Syndrome) will result if the patient exceeds that quantity, eats too quickly,
or eats the wrong foods. Over time, the person will get to know what his body
can handle, and will learn to avoid those foods that result in sickness. The
patient, however, will experience a miraculous change from their pre-operation
sensation, one that may be entirely foreign to him – he or she will never feel
hungry again, and at certain times, may not even be aware that he needs to feed
himself. This could result in dizzy spells and headaches. At some point,
however, the weight will level off; the patient will not become anorexic.
It is not unheard of that within the first month the need for blood pressure
and cholesterol medications will no longer be needed, as the dramatic weight
loss changes body chemistry quickly.
Other surgeries such as tummy tuck might be necessary to remove unwanted
skin. Amazingly, insurance will only pay for the tummy tuck if you have at
least a foot of skin to remove.