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Still have doubts

Still have doubts? Consider these 5 common concerns to help make up your mind

Bariatric surgery is a big decision! And it makes good sense to do your research. Whilst the list of concerns can vary from person to person, certain themes often come up. We hope the answers to these common questions help you decide what’s right for you.

  • Do most people who have had bariatric surgery regain the weight?
    Most patients do maintain significant excess weight loss over time. However, every person is different. And individual results can differ significantly from the average, since each person’s body and metabolism is unique. 

    Typically, it is easy to lose weight during the first 2-3 months after surgery. Weight loss usually slows down after that, however. And some minor weight gain is expected after the initial major weight loss. On average, people lose weight for the first 18 months-2 years.1 Then, many people regain about 1/5th of that weight over the next 3 years.1 

    It is important to understand and practice behaviours that allow you to keep weight off long-term. Talk to your healthcare team about what results you can expect and how you best can achieve them. Also view this for more inspiration on what you can expect overtime in terms of weightloss

  • Do I have to lose any weight before bariatric surgery?
    Different clinics have different recommendations Many bariatric services adopt a pre-specified weight loss requirement before offering surgery. Some may require people to lose about 5-10% excess weight loss before surgery, while many non-public-funded services, especially insurance companies, require active participation in a 6-12 month supervised dietary program. Others recommend a short preoperative period (not more than three weeks) of a lowcalorie diet.
    The significance of the relationship between preoperative weight loss efforts and postoperative outcomes remains undetermined. Various studies have contrasting conclusions.2

    If you choose to have weight loss surgery, it’s important to work with your healthcare team to plan how to lose the amount of weight necessary before surgery 

  • How much will I be able to eat after bariatric surgery?
    You should receive a diet plan to follow after your surgery. Whilst the plan varies depending on each person, a typical plan according to the UK’s National Health Service3 is: 

    The first 2 weeks
    - you'll have water and fluids (for example, thin soup)

    From weeks 3 to week 4
    - you'll eat runny food (for example, yogurt or puréed food)

    From weeks 5 to 8
    - you'll eat soft food (for example, mashed potato)

    From week 8 onwards
    - you'll gradually return to a healthy, balanced diet

  • How long does it take to recover from bariatric surgery?
    Usually, you can leave hospital 1-2 days after having had weight loss surgery. Most people can return to normal activities such as work after approximately 3-4 weeks. However, you will need to make long-term lifestyle changes to make the most of bariatric surgery.  

    For more information, see the article  The process to transform your life starts with a single, easy step.

  • Can I get pregnant if I’ve had bariatric surgery?
    For the first 12-18 months after weight loss surgery, most health professionals encourage women to avoid becoming pregnant.3 That’s because bariatric surgery can affect your vitamin and mineral levels. Low levels while you are pregnant can pose a risk to your baby. 

References

1. van Rijswijk AS, van Olst N, Schats W, van der Peet DL, van de Laar AW. What Is Weight Loss After Bariatric Surgery Expressed in Percentage Total Weight Loss (%TWL)? A Systema􀆟 c Review. Obes Surg. 2021 Aug;31(8):3833-3847. doi: 10.1007/s11695-021-05394-x. Epub 2021 May 17. PMID: 34002289

2. Chinaka U, et al., Pre-specified Weight Loss Before Bariatric Surgery and Postoperative Outcomes. Cureus. 2020 Dec; 12(12): e12406. Published online 2020 Dec 31. doi:  10.7759/cureus.12406 

3. NHS. Recovering from weight loss surgery. Feb 2024 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/weight-loss-surgery/ 

Disclaimer

Information contained herein is not medical advice and should not be used as an alternative to speaking with your doctor. 
Discuss indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions, adverse events and any further information with your health care professional.