Post-Op Phase for LAP-BAND® Surgery

Your surgery is over but your new life has just begun. Your success depends on you! It is critical that you follow all post-operative instructions carefully and take advantage of the support that the bariatric team has to offer.

After your surgery, you will see the surgeon or physician assistant and
dietitian at:

  • 2 weeks
  • 8 weeks for first adjustment and every 6 weeks until the adjustment is sufficient to maintain a steady rate of weight loss, only on Tuesday mornings.
  • then every few months or so as additional adjustments are needed

Medications after the surgery:

  • You will be instructed that all of your medications and vitamin/mineral supplements will need to be in liquid form, able to be crushed or dissolved, or in a chewable form for the first 2 months after your surgery. Your pharmacist can advise you about your specific medications. Our dietitian will advise you on the required vitamin/mineral supplements. After this you can return to taking regular pills.
  • Vitamin and mineral supplements daily for the rest of your life.
    • 1 multivitamin with minerals daily
    • calcium tablets, depending on how much dairy you take in

Diet Advancement After Laparoscopic Gastric Banding Surgery

Liquids - you will be on a liquid diet for 2 weeks after your surgery. This allows the pouch to heal while enabling you to take in nutrients to avoid malnutrition. This also significantly decreases any discomfort or pain which is associated with eating solids this soon after surgery. You will learn which liquids are recommended during this phase during the pre-surgery nutrition classes with the dietitian.

Pureed / mushy foods - you will be on these very soft foods for approximately 2 weeks after your surgery. This will allow the pouch to continue healing while gradually becoming accustomed to solid foods again. Once again, you will receive specific instructions on which foods are tolerated best during this phase in the pre-surgery nutrition classes with the dietitian.

Soft, Regular foods - As you become completely healed, your pouch is able to tolerate a greater variety of foods, which you will gradually add into your diet. It may take several weeks before you become comfortable with what you can eat and how much you can eat.

After Your Band Adjustments ("Fills")

You will need to follow a liquid diet for 1-2 days following your adjustments, as there may be some slight swelling around the band.

Weight Changes After Lap-Band Surgery

How Quickly Will You Lose Weight?

  • The average weight loss following lap-band surgery is 1-3 pounds per week. Depending on how much weight you have to lose, it may take over 2 years to reach your goal weight.

Weight Plateaus

  • These are usually indications that your diet and/or exercise regimen are no longer sufficient to maintain your weight loss. Our dietitian can help you with these "stalls".

Weight Gain

  • It is possible to gain all, and more of your weight back following lap-band surgery if you are not willing to change your lifestyle to include healthy dietary choices eaten in moderation and incorporating activity/exercise into your daily life.