Undergoing surgery can be a nerve-wracking process, no matter how simple the procedure is. There’s also the fear of what recovery will look like and the pain that may be associated with it. Learn more about the bariatric surgery recovery process, from the Lap-Band® Procedure to gastric bypass surgery.

Different recovery times

The recovery times for bariatric surgery will vary depending upon the procedure you undergo. Most bariatric procedures are now performed laparoscopically. The bariatric surgeon is able to perform the procedure by making a few small incisions in the abdomen. However, there are some instances in which individuals may have to have an open procedure, which will require a longer recovery time. Procedures like gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy that involve rerouting and cutting the intestines or the stomach also come with the risk of more complications and a longer recovery time.

Gastric bypass and gastric sleeve

Following the sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass surgeries, you will need to stay in the hospital overnight and up to a few days. Because the sleeve gastrectomy involves partial “amputation” of your stomach, and the gastric bypass surgery involves cutting and rerouting your stomach and intestines, you are likely to feel some pain and some swelling. Your doctor can provide pain medicine to lessen the pain. You are required stay in the hospital so that your surgical team can monitor your vitals and ensure there are no post-operative complications.

Your surgical team will give you a specific plan to follow regarding activity limitations and food restrictions, but it is recommended that you take about one to two weeks off from work. Your recovery period will last about three to six weeks (depending on the type of procedure), during which your caloric intake will be severely restricted and you will have to follow a special diet. You will slowly transition from clear liquids during the first few days following surgery, to a liquid diet, to a pureed food diet, to soft foods only, and then to the full range of foods. It is important that you do not start eating solid foods too soon; you will need to transition slowly. Light activity is recommended, like walking, but strenuous physical activity shouldn’t be continued until about a month after your surgery.

The Lap-Band Program

While recovery from gastric bypass surgery and the sleeve gastrectomy procedure can take upwards of six weeks, recovery time following the Lap-Band Procedure is typically much shorter. While the Lap-Band Surgery is performed laparoscopically just as most other surgeries are, the quicker recovery time can be attributed to the fact that the Lap-Band Procedure does not require any rerouting or cutting of the intestines or stomach. The procedure can be performed within an outpatient center and is typically completed in under an hour. Patients can usually go home the same day as the procedure.

It takes about one month for your stomach to heal from surgery, and it is at around this time that you can get your first adjustment. After the procedure, you’ll need to start with a liquid diet, then move to soft foods for a period of time before incorporating solid foods back into your diet.

The most important thing to focus on after bariatric surgery is taking it easy and taking the time to heal. For more resources, visit: https://www.www.lapband.com/resources/.

Professor Mitiku Belachew was born in June of 1942 in a small village near Ghion, Ethiopia. The exact date is unclear as his birth wasn’t registered until he entered school for the first time at the age of 12. That’s when his village’s Chief ‘tapped’ him to attend school. Until then he had been his village’s goat shepherd, a revered and important position for the vitality of his family and village. From his straw hut with a dirt floor he ascended through schools in Ethiopia to win a spot in Medical School in Liege, Belgium. He ultimately became a surgeon.

Dr. Belachew went on to become the Chief of Surgery at the Hospital Center Régional De Huy. Coming from a land of hunger and famine, he specialized in treating severe obesity or the ‘plague of the developed world’, as he described it. Among the earliest surgeons to master laparoscopic surgery he lamented that he did all of his surgery via a scope except to complete bariatric surgery with the original gastric band. He wanted a laparoscopic solution. Unlike many of his peers with the same idea, he said; “Let’s work together to make it happen.” Nearly 2 years (1992-1993) were dedicated to the development of the laparoscopic technique with brand new evolving instruments, scopes, and operating room equipment.

Collaborating with the company that developed the Lap-Band® (BioEnterics Corp, a division of Inamed), a lengthy series of animal labs was completed as prototypes evolved. This effort culminated in the first human laparoscopic placements of a gastric band, The Lap-Band® System, on September 1st, 1993 at the CHU, Huy, Belgium. Read the “History of Lap-Band®: from Dream to Reality.” Prof. Belachew went on to host numerous international Lap-Band workshops and traveled the world teaching the surgical technique and presenting his data. He proctored every surgeon in the U.S. clinical trial and served as a monitor until FDA approval in 2001.

Dr. Belachew hosted the Third World Congress of the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity (IFSO) in Bruges, Belgium in 1998 as the President of the Belgian Chapter of IFSO. His final professional presentation was as the honored keynote speaker at the 2003 IFSO congress in Salamanca, Spain. He opened his talk to approximately 3,000 attendees with the following; “Thank you for your warm welcome and introduction. How ironic and sad that in the time it took you to introduce me, to speak about my career treating severe obesity, in my home country of Ethiopia more people died from starvation today than are in this auditorium.” In the stunned silence that followed he outlined his unlikely path from his humble village to that podium. He was most proud of having maintained his autonomy as a surgeon; to have chosen what was best for his patients, with no obligations or commercial influence. (He never benefited financially from the development and commercialization of the Lap-Band. He volunteered his collaboration to help his patients.) He closed his keynote lecture with the surprise announcement that he was retiring and returning to Ethiopia.

After retirement, Dr. Belachew spearheaded fundraising to build and equip a primary school. Then when the first students aged-out, he did it again to build a secondary school. He taught laparoscopic surgery in hospitals all over Ethiopia. At the age of 67, along with several college friends, he climbed to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, suffering a few frost bitten toes. “Worth it” he said. Mitiku was well known as a quiet gentleman. When he really wanted to be heard he spoke very softly. Always the diplomat and statesman, he changed the course of countless arguments among colleagues with “the wine is good.” He became quite the wine connoisseur, completing a formal sommelier certification late in life. How many times did he say: “Life is too short to drink bad wine.” Demanding of excellence he frequently said: “You must be serious about your work.” But he also added; “One cannot be serious all the time.”

Mitiku died April 8, 2021 at the age of 78 in Huy, Belgium in his former operating room. While he would not want a ‘fuss’ made, to those of us who were impacted by his expertise, humanitarianism, and mentorship, he deserves international recognition and praise.

Thank you, Dr. Belachew.

–Vern Vincent, Lap-Band® Clinical Specialist and Medical Affairs

Are you looking for a little bit more information about the Lap-Band® Program before you decide to find a surgeon in your area to schedule a consultation? We get it! It can be a scary decision, but it’s time to take control of your life. Learn more about how you can take control for a lifetime with the Lap-Band Program.

How it works

The Lap-Band Program is a safe weight-loss procedure that allows patients to maintain their weight-loss long-term. A soft silicone band is placed around the upper stomach to create a smaller stomach pouch. This reduces the stomach’s capacity, helping you to eat smaller meals and feel fuller faster. The band is adjusted through a port that is placed under the skin and connects to the band with a tube. The band can be either tightened or loosened by removing or adding saline solution through the port.

Not only is the procedure safe and low risk, it is the least invasive bariatric procedure available for patients. The procedure is performed laparoscopically, and unlike other bariatric procedures, there is no cutting or rerouting of the stomach or intestines involved. This means that the procedure is also reversible; the same cannot be said for bariatric procedures like gastric bypass and the sleeve gastrectomy.

Before moving forward with the procedure, you must undergo testing to ensure that you are healthy enough to qualify for the procedure. You will meet with your surgical team to discuss the procedure, ask any questions, and make sure you are ready to make a lifelong commitment.

Recovery

The Lap-Band Program is unique because the procedure is performed in an outpatient facility and patients can typically go home the same day. Other procedures require at least an overnight stay in the hospital. Patients may feel sore following the Lap-Band Procedure, but pain is easily managed with pain medicine. As the stomach heals, which can take upwards of four to six weeks, patients will slowly transition from liquids to soft foods to solid foods. This is to make sure the new stomach structure heals properly. Patients can engage in light exercise following the procedure but should wait until they have the okay from their surgeon to start participating in more strenuous activities, like weightlifting. Other than that, patients can resume their daily lives fairly quickly and start their weight-loss journeys.

Aftercare

Contrary to some myths, undergoing the Lap-Band Procedure is not taking the easy way out; patients still work very hard to lose weight and maintain their weight loss. This is true for all bariatric procedures. Participating in an aftercare program, in which patients regularly talk to their surgical team, is highly recommended. Patients should look to their Lap-Band Team for support and to discuss any complications. It’s also important to stay in touch with your Lap-Band Support Team so they can perform adjustments to your band as needed.

To get in touch with a Lap-Band Surgeon, visit: https://www.www.lapband.com/find-a-surgeon/.

Eating high-quality, nutrient dense foods is important for everyone, but it’s especially important for individuals who have undergone a bariatric procedure, such as the Lap-Band® Weight-Loss Program. Once you have the Lap-Band in place, you will not be able to consume as much as you could previously. In order to get all the nutrients you need in a day, you will need to focus on consuming power foods that are high in necessary nutrients, like fiber, protein, calcium, and vitamins. Not only will power foods make you feel good, they will fill you up, they will help keep you healthy, and they can help prevent certain diseases. On the contrary, low-quality foods that are high in sugar, fat, and calories can cause you to crash and they offer little, if any, nutritional value. Because you can only eat a small amount, it is crucial that you do not fill up with low-quality foods.

Check out our list of power foods to eat after bariatric surgery.

Water

Hydration is absolutely crucial after bariatric surgery. Not only will water help keep you full and sated, it may aid in weight loss efforts. Sugary, carbonated beverages may irritate your stomach after bariatric surgery, and over-consumption can lead to weight gain, so stick to water.

Salmon

Not only is salmon delicious and satisfying, it’s good for you. You’ll get plenty of protein, healthy fats, and omega-3 fatty acids when you add salmon to your diet. Bonus: omega-3 fatty acids may play a positive role in reducing obesity. If salmon isn’t your favorite, try tuna or lean meat like chicken.

Cottage cheese

Cottage cheese is a great source of calcium and protein, and it’s also low in fat. Cottage cheese is an especially great option if you’re still recovering from bariatric surgery and are not yet able to consume solid foods. It makes for a great breakfast or served alongside fruit as a light lunch.

Berries

Fruit has gotten a bad rap as of late due to its sugar content (despite those sugars being natural), so it’s best to enjoy fruit in moderation. If you’re craving some sweet, delicious fruit, a handful of berries will give you the nutrients you need, like antioxidants, fiber, vitamin C, and more. Studies show that they can help lower cholesterol, improve blood sugar, fight inflammation, and even protect against some types of cancer.

Nuts

While nuts can get a bad reputation for being relatively high in fat and calories, they are a great power food when consumed in moderation. If you need to reach for a snack during the day, a small handful of nuts is a great option and will provide you with some protein and fiber to tide you over until your next meal. If you’re missing that crunch you used to get from potato chips, sprinkle some nuts on your salad or your morning yogurt.

Avocados

There’s something to be said for all those avocado toast lovers out there! The fruit is loaded with good-for-you nutrients like fiber, potassium, and healthy fats. They’re incredibly versatile, too. You can toss them on a salad, blend them in with sauces to get an extra nutrient kick, or eat them on their own with your favorite seasoning.

Leafy greens

Leafy greens like spinach and kale make a great side on any plate because they’re low in calories but loaded with vitamins and minerals. Plus, you can easily dress them up with homemade dressings, nuts, more veggies, or fruit.

For more nutrition tips, visit our blog.