Benefits of bariatric support groups

Smoking increases the risk of lung problems after bariatric surgery, can reduce the rate of healing, increases the rates of infection, and interferes with blood supply to the healing tissues.

Many patients experience some hair loss or thinning after bariatric surgery. This usually occurs between the fourth and the eighth month after bariatric surgery. Consistent intake of protein at mealtime is the most important prevention method. Also recommended are a daily zinc supplement and a good daily volume of fluid intake.

Patients may begin to wonder about this early after the bariatric surgery when they are losing 20-40 pounds per month, or maybe when they've lost more than 100 pounds and they're still losing weight. Two things happen to allow weight to stabilize. First, a patient's ongoing metabolic needs (calories burned) decrease as the body sheds excess pounds. Second, there is a natural progressive increase in calorie and nutrient intake over the months following weight loss bariatric surgery. The stomach pouch and attached small intestine learn to work together better, and there is some expansion in pouch size over a period of months. In the absence of complications, patients are very unlikely to lose weight to the point of malnutrition.

You will need to keep in close contact with your primary care doctor regarding any long term medications you are currently on. Your doctor will determine whether medications for blood pressure, diabetes, etc., can be stopped when the conditions for which they are taken improve or resolve after weight loss bariatric surgery. For meds that need to be continued, the vast majority can be swallowed, absorbed and work the same as before weight loss bariatric surgery. Change in dosage may be required with weight loss but will need to be discussed with your primary care doctor. Two classes of medications that should be discussed during your consultation with your surgeon are diuretics (fluid pills) and NSAIDs (most over-the-counter pain medicines). NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.) may create ulcers in the small pouch or the attached bowel. Most diuretic medicines make the kidneys lose potassium. With the dramatically reduced intake experienced by most weight loss bariatric surgery patients, they are not able to take in enough potassium from food to compensate. When potassium levels get too low, it can lead to fatal heart problems.

Most patients say no. In fact, for the first 4-6 weeks patients have almost no appetite. Over the next several months the appetite returns, but it tends not to be a ravenous "eat everything in the cupboard" type of hunger.

Many people heavy enough to meet the surgical criteria for weight loss bariatric surgery have stretched their skin beyond the point from which it can "snap back." Some patients will choose to have plastic bariatric surgery to remove loose or excess skin after they have lost their excess weight. Insurance generally does not pay for this type of bariatric surgery (often seen as elective bariatric surgery). However, some do pay for certain types of bariatric surgery to remove excess skin when complications arise from these excess skin folds. Ask your surgeon about your need for a skin removal procedure.