For your safety and best results, it’s important to follow the post-op instructions carefully. You can download a copy here or read them below.
Surgery post-op instructions
General Instructions
- May shower 48 hours after surgery. Just wash incisions with mild soap and water, pat dry. No bandages needed. No tub baths or soaking for two weeks.
- Avoid heavy lifting for six weeks. OK to lift: babies, a gallon of milk. Avoid lifting over 40 pounds (20 pounds per arm) until six weeks after surgery. Follow the “if it hurts, don’t do it rule.”
- Exercise: Start with walking right away. Jogging, stationary bike, low-impact aerobics are fine at two weeks, then you can increase as tolerated. Avoid abdominal crunches and weight lifting for six weeks. Follow the “if it hurts, don’t do it rule.”
- Prescription medications: Resume medications as directed in your discharge instructions. Most pills should go down fine, but you may not be able to take all of them at once.
- Pain: You can take acetaminophen (Tylenol), 1000mg every eight hours for the first three to five days unless you are already taking pain medicines that contain acetaminophen. For moderate pain that isn’t relieved by the acetaminophen or your usual pain medications, you can use the prescription provided by the bariatric clinic in addition.
- Acid-reducing medicine for 60 days. We have included omeprazole in your starter kit. Take this or an equivalent for the first 60 days after surgery, then you may stop.
- Preventing GERD (acid reflux or heart burn). Eat small meals, avoid fatty foods and spicy foods. Do not eat or drink 2 or 3 hours before lying down.
- NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs): These are potentially dangerous for Gastric Bypass patients. Examples are: Aspirin and Aspirin containing medicines like Excedrin, BC Powder and Fiorinal. Aleve, Naprosyn, Naproxen, Advil and Motrin (Ibuprofen), Meloxicam (Mobic), Voltaren (Diclofenac), Indocin (Indomethacin). It is OK to take one aspirin per day if directed by a physician or to use any other NSAIDs for no more than one day with two weeks of rest.
- Over-the-counter medications (such as cold and sinus medications): may be used according to the directions on the packaging.
- Driving: Try to wait one week. Do not drive if you are taking any of the prescription pain medications we gave you. Avoid long trips for first six weeks. If you do take a trip longer than one hour, you need to stop and walk at least every hour.
- Returning to work: The general recommendation is to wait one week for Lap-Band®, two weeks for Gastric Bypass, Sleeve Gastrectomy or Switch, but if you feel ready to return sooner, that is fine.
- Attend support groups and nutrition classes. Check with office for times.
- No tobacco or nicotine products. This is a lifelong rule.
- Call the office number with questions or concerns, including after hours if you think it is an emergency. A doctor is always on call. Go to the emergency room or call 911 if you have to, but usually it is best to try calling us first.
Vitamins - start one week after surgery
It’s required for all bariatric patients to start taking vitamins regularly after surgery. The type of vitamins you should take depends on your procedure. See below for the vitamin options by procedure.
Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy
The vitamin options for Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy patients are below. If you have questions, our staff can help you decide which option is best for you.
- BariLife Complete Tablets - six tablets daily (three in the morning and three in the evening or two in the morning, two around lunch time and two in the evening)
- BariLife Multivitamin Powder - two scoops/daily (one in the morning and one at night)
- BariLife “Just One” Multivitamin with Iron - one per day and three 500mg Calcium Citrate chewables
- Bariatric Advantage Multivitamin. one per day and 30-45 mg iron and three 500mg Calcium Citrate chewables
- Bariatric Advantage Ultra Solo with Iron. One per day and three 500mg Calcium Citrate chewables
Duodenal Switch (SADI-S or BPD/DS or DS)
The vitamin options for Duodenal Switch patients are below. If you have questions, our staff can help you decide which option is best for you.
- BariLife Complete Tablets - eight per day (instead of six), three or four different times (three at breakfast, two at lunch, two dinner or two at breakfast, two at lunch, two at dinner and two at bedtime)
- BariLife Multivitamin Powder - three scoops per day, three different times (breakfast, lunch dinner)
- BariLife “Just One” Multivitamin with iron – one twice per day, and three 500mg Calcium Citrate chewable (or equivalent Calcium)
- Bariatric Advantage High ADEK Multivitamin – One twice per day, and 45-60 mg iron, and three 500mg Calcium Citrate chewable
Post-operative Diet
Clear Liquids -- Days 1-2 (in hospital)
Clear liquid foods include:
- broth (e.g. chicken, beef, seafood, bone broth)
- water (e.g. Crystal Light or Mio)
- coffee (no creamer, can add zero-calorie sweetener)
- herbal tea
- Gatorade Zero
- clear protein drinks (e.g. Protein 2O, Premier Protein, Bariatric Advantage)
- sugar-free popsicles
- ice
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Clear Liquids Menu -- Days 1-2 (in hospital) |
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| Time | Food | Notes |
| Morning | Coffee or tea | During this stage it is important to stay hydrated. You should be drinking at a rate of one to two ounces per hour. |
| Breakfast | Clear protein drink | |
| Mid-morning | Sugar-free Jello | |
| Lunch | Chicken broth | |
| Afternoon | Tea | |
| Dinner | Beef broth | |
| Evening | Water |
Full Liquids Menu -- Days 3-14
Full liquid foods include:
- protein drinks with more than 20g protein (e.g. Premier, Ensure Max, Atkins, Bariatric Advantage)
- unsweetened applesauce
- strained soups
- thin yogurt (no added sugar)
- sugar-free Jell-O
- sugar-free pudding
- coffee (sugar free creamer)
- Fairlife milk
- thin cream of wheat
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Full Liquids Menu -- Days 3-14 |
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| Time | Food | Notes |
| Morning | Coffee |
Aim to drink 32-48 oz. daily. No carbonated beverages; that is a permanent change. Refined sugars and simple carbs should be avoided. Start taking vitamins on day 7. |
| Breakfast | Protein drink | |
| Mid-morning | Sugar-free Jello | |
| Lunch | Greek yogurt with apple sauce | |
| Afternoon | Tea | |
| Dinner | Protein drink | |
| Evening | Water |
Regular Foods: Days 15+
Start with soft, easy to chew foods. Do not drink with meals. Regular foods include:
- eggs
- ground meat
- chicken
- fish
- beans
- cheese
- tuna
- greek yogurt with fruit
- cottage cheese with fruit
- lamb
- chili
- lunch meat
- omelet with cheese
- turkey sausage
- vegetables (excluding potatoes and corn)
- fruit
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Regular Foods Menu: Days 15+ |
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| Time | Food | Notes |
| Breakfast | Scrambled eggs and cheese |
For the first two months after surgery, try to avoid spicy
seasonings. Try keeping a food record. This will help you keep track of food intake and maintain success. www.bariastic.com is one app that is very useful. Maintain less than or equal to 1200-1500 calories per day and about 75-100 grams of protein. |
| Mid-morning | Cottage cheese | |
| Lunch | Tuna and vegetables | |
| Afternoon | Chicken and vegetables | |
| Dinner | Turkey and vegetables |
Frequently asked questions
For most people, it doesn’t feel good, and it can possibly stretch the “pouch.”
For Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy at least 60 grams per day. For Switch and SADI-S, at least 80 grams per day.
In moderation, alcohol is OK.12 ounces of beer, six ounces of wine or two ounces of liquor per day is considered “moderate.” Remember that alcohol has calories, so the more you drink, the less weight you are likely to lose. Alcohol is absorbed more quickly after gastric surgery, so you have to be strict about no alcohol and driving, operating machinery, etc.
No tobacco or nicotine products ever.
The true risks of inhaling or ingesting are unknown, and we advise against all forms.
One to two pounds per week is enough. Losing faster than this is OK as long as you are getting in protein three times per day and are not having frequent vomiting.
Wait one week. As for exercise and lifting, follow the “if it hurts, don’t do it” rule, and wait another week to try again for any activity that causes pain.
Most people can return to work within one to three weeks. If your job requires heavy lifting or is very physical, you may need to wait four to six weeks. It depends on the person and the job.
It depends. Many insurance plans cover surgery, but only if you have documentation of physician supervised weight-loss efforts, including an exercise program and visits with a physician and a dietitian or nutritionist. The sooner you begin documenting these, the better chance of your insurance covering the surgery. Our staff is here to help you with this as well.
It is our protocol to discharge patients one to two nights after surgery.
Minimum age is 13. We do not have a fixed upper limit for age and perform surgery on carefully selected patients into their seventies.
We offer private-pay options. You can find our pricing information here.
Yes. Patients are advised not to get pregnant for at least one year following bariatric surgery and not before weight has been stable for at least two months.