How Quickly Will I Lose Weight After Surgery?
The amount and how much weight you may lose after bariatric surgery will depend on the type of surgery, and the patient. There are a number of patient factors that will determine how much weight is lost and when they may begin to lose this weight. These factors include:
- Age
- Gender
- Starting weight
- Activity level
- How well you follow doctor’s orders
The type of procedure will also be a huge contributing factor for the results seen following the surgery. Patients who undergo adjustable gastric banding procedures generally lose weight at a slower pace than those who have gastric sleeve or gastric bypass surgery.
The amount of weight loss will be considered in percentages. For example, doctors look at the percentage of your excess weight loss. This refers to the difference between your current weight and your ideal weight. If you are 50 kilos overweight, and you lose 25 kilos in 18 months following your surgery, you have lost 50% of your excess weight.
How effective weight loss surgery is heavily depends on how willing the patient is to commit to the new lifestyle. Working closely with a doctor, surgeon and a dietician, you will be given strict instructions to follow after your weight loss surgery. If you do not follow these guidelines, the chances of shedding weight rapidly are very low.
The surgery itself is not enough to meet your ideal weight and make lasting changes to your life. Undergoing weight loss procedures means committing to a lifelong journey of eating well, exercising, and adopting healthy habits for the body and mind.
On top of your doctor’s specific guidelines, here are some other tips to staying healthy after your weight loss surgery, so you can lose more weight at an increased and healthy rate.
- Exercise regularly (when cleared by doctor)
- Follow dietary guidelines
- Meal prep
- Avoid snacking throughout the day
- Meet your target water consumption goals
- Avoid sugary drinks
- Attend all follow-up appointments and check ups
