Selection for surgery depends on your weight and height, the presence of other health or psychological problems, your age and readiness to go ahead with surgery. The final decision rests with the team but we will do our best to help anyone that we think will benefit from surgery.

The amount of weight lost after surgery depends on the type of operation, but more importantly on changing your lifestyle and eating habits. Weight loss requires reducing your food intake and increasing exercise. It is important to be realistic about weight loss. Most patients lose 50% of their excess weight in the first 6 months of the surgery, and this amount reaches 65% by 12 months. The primary aim of weight loss surgery is to solve the problems caused by your obesity and not to get you to your ideal weight.

The total time in the surgical theatre is about 2 hours. This includes 60-75 minutes of actual surgery time and the rest of the time is nursing preparation and anesthesia (going to sleep and waking up) time. An additional 2 hours may be spent in the post anesthesia recovery area before patients return to the ward.

Laparoscopic bariatric surgery patients usually have to stay in the hospital for 2-3 days after surgery. Rarely, if the surgeon wants to monitor you he may keep you in hospital for an extra day.

We usually recommend 4 weeks off of work or very light work in order to fully recover from your surgery and to be able to hydrate and eat well enough to sustain yourself throughout the day. However, for some people who work desk jobs, they may be able to return to work within 1-2 weeks from surgery if they choose.

You will be asked to avoid contact sports for 4 weeks. You can do long walks for the first 4 weeks, then you can do any activity as long as it does not hurt. Patients are strongly encouraged to do regular physical activities to achieve and to maintain good weight loss.

Walk as much as you can without becoming tired during the first four weeks after surgery. Eventually, you might try to set step count goal for yourself and try to improve on this weekly. All patients are strongly advised to start a regular training program in order to maximize their weight loss, reduce muscle loss, and maintain the weight lost over time.

The weight loss occurs over the course of 1 year after surgery with the most and fastest part of the weight loss occurring in the first 6 months. Bariatric surgery is a tool, and like all tools, if used incorrectly they may not produce the complete effect that was anticipated. Weight regain is possible after surgery, however in most cases this occurs when an individual does not maintain the dietary and lifestyle habits that are recommended.

Most patients report a remarkable improvement in the quality of life after they lose most of their excess weight. Certain associated medical conditions like type II diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnea improve or disappear after this weight loss. On the other hand some patients, women mostly, may develop anemia due to insufficient iron and dietary imbalance after this operation. This can be avoided by taking the recommended supplements and post-operative follow-up.

After significant weight loss there will inevitably be some areas where the skin starts to sag (around the tummy, under the arms and thighs, and breasts). How bad this is depends on how much weight you lose, your age and skin tone (generally younger patients have a better skin tone). The only way to effectively deal with loose skin is with plastic surgery.