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Losing Weight After Surgery

Losing weight after weight loss surgery is a gradual process that requires commitment and adherence to the recommended lifestyle changes. 

We consider your surgery as a tool that makes these changes easier. Your doctor will explain what is involved, but it is not just about surgery. Rather, we focus on helping our patients lose as much weight as possible, improve their health, and regain their lives.

Long-Term Weight Loss

After bariatric surgery, patients lose, on average, about 50% of their excess body weight and keep this extra weight off long-term. Data is available on all procedures we offer and results after 10 years show sustained weight loss.

Procedures such as the different gastric bypass operations have greater weight loss with results of up to 80% excess weight loss ten years after surgery. The gastric sleeve also has excellent long-term outcomes and is the preferred option for many people.

Most of your weight loss will occur in the first 24 months after surgery, but further weight loss can occur. Ultimately, how far you go and how well you maintain that weight loss is in your hands. We provide you with the necessary support and tools to achieve your weight loss goals and stay with you on your journey for life.

Weight Loss Expectations

Deciding to undergo bariatric surgery is one of the most important decisions you can make for your long-term health. However, one of the considerations that must be made when evaluating the option of bariatric surgery is the patient's expectations for weight loss and disease resolution after surgery.

Weight loss expectations can vary drastically from patient to patient, and much depends on understanding the procedure or procedures they may be considering further. What may be considered a successful procedure from a clinical or surgical standpoint may or may not be considered successful by the patient. 

Weight loss surgery is not a magic bullet and, on its own, will not produce ideal weight loss. As such, weight loss surgery results can vary widely between procedures and patients. Gastric bypass and SADI patients should expect the greatest weight loss after surgery, while gastric sleeve patients can also expect excellent results. Gastric banding patients should temper their expectations in comparison, as results vary widely.

Typical weight loss patterns vary greatly depending on the type of surgery performed. Gastric bypass patients tend to lose weight faster than gastric sleeve or gastric banding patients, especially during the first year. Over the longer term, gastric bypass and sleeve patients see similar weight loss, while banding patients will have somewhat more modest overall excess body weight loss.

Regardless of the short-term weight loss results, it is important to focus on long-term weight loss management, and most bariatric surgery patients have the potential to see excellent results within two years of surgery. These results will last as long as the patient maintains their new, healthier lifestyle.

With the above being said, patients should understand that weight loss is not the only measure of success. The improvement or resolution of obesity-related diseases (comorbidities), including diabetes, gastro-oesophageal reflux, sleep apnoea, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, is similarly important.

Although patients can lose 50 to 80 percent of their excess body weight and attain most, if not all, of their health goals, not all patients can achieve a perfect or ideal shape. The rate at which individuals lose weight differs, and the ultimate success of weight loss surgery depends on the procedure, how well you follow your diet and exercise program and what you consider successful.

Suppose you are ready and willing to make significant changes in your health and well-being through lifelong commitments to diet, exercise, lifestyle modification and adherence to the recommended aftercare program. In that case, you should expect a substantial benefit from weight loss surgery. 

Expectations are always difficult to manage in bariatric surgery. Therefore each patient will undergo physical and psychological assessments before the weight loss procedure. Doing so provides more realistic expectations for both safety and effectiveness.