Post Operative
Those who undergo bariatric surgery need to observe some medical guidelines to avoid complications.
Stay alert to the warning signs and guidance of our team. Contact us immediately if: abdominal pain does not stop with the prescribed analgesics, fever, vomiting, shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting, tachycardia, etc;
- The incisions will be closed with stitches and covered with dressings during the first hours. Swelling and ecchymosis (“bluish” or “purple”) commonly occur, as well as small bleeding. It is allowed to take a complete bath and wet the incisions. Dry normally with a towel, no need for special care. However, if symptoms appear with pain, redness, purulent discharge or a strong odor, contact our team immediately;
- Breathe deeply three times every hour to better expand your lung and avoid complications such as fever and pneumonia;
- Avoid lying down or sitting too long. Try to walk several times a day;
- It is common to feel shoulder pain after laparoscopy. This pain is a consequence of the distension of the diaphragm muscle by the gas used in the operation and usually disappears in a few hours or days;
- The surgeon and nutritionist will advise you on the diet. It serves so that the patient adapts better to the new stomach, avoiding complications. During the first two weeks after the operation the consistency of the diet will be liquid, in small volumes and intervals. From there, the consistency and volume of food will be gradually changed;
- After hospital discharge, analgesics will be prescribed to avoid pain, anticoagulant to reduce the chances of thrombosis or pulmonary embolism and a gastric acidity reducer;
- Other medications used prior to the operation to treat associated conditions (diabetes, hypertension, etc.) should be reintroduced, but may need to be adjusted and analyzed on a case-by-case basis;
- It is desirable to practice physical exercises regularly after the operation under the proper professional guidance, but only after release by the surgeon in charge;
- It is necessary to perform a periodic check through medical, nutritional and psychological consultations, as well as blood tests at determined intervals;
- Bariatric surgery interferes not only with the amount of nutrients ingested, but also with the absorption of some elements, requiring the routine supplementation of vitamins and proteins. These prescriptions will be made by your surgeon and nutritionist;
- In many cases, a plastic surgery for the removal of excess skin will be required. This procedure can be done when the weight loss is fully stabilized, that is, after approximately 18 months from the date of the operation;
- Women who undergo bariatric surgery should wait at least 18 months before becoming pregnant because the large weight loss that occurs soon after the operation can impair the growth of the fetus and the health of the mother;
- Changes in your body’s anatomy and functioning due to surgery may influence other treatments you may need. Be sure to let your doctors know.
Do not forget that this operation should only be considered as one more step in the treatment of morbid obesity: the key to success lies in the commitment that will be assumed for life.