Surgery Aftercare
Bariatric surgery is a powerful tool, but long-term success depends on continued care and healthy habits, including:
- Following prescribed nutrition and vitamin supplementation plans
- Addressing mental and emotional well-being
- Attending regular follow-up appointments with your surgery team, dietitian, and primary care provider
- Staying engaged with support systems
- Incorporating consistent physical activity into daily life
Walking every two hours is recommended as soon as it is safe to do so to promote healthy circulation and the healing process. When sitting for extended periods, especially during car rides, remember to flex your legs, rotate your ankles, and move regularly to support blood flow and reduce clot risk. Investing in compression stockings to support circulation will help immediately after surgery and well into the future.
Be sure to stay hydrated. With the excitement of surgery and the post-operative instructions that follow, it can be easy to forget to drink water. Aim for 64 oz. per day taken in small, frequent sips throughout the day to accommodate your smaller stomach pouch.