How much weight can I expect to lose after bariatric surgery?

Weight loss surgery patients usually lose between 50 and 70% of their body weight, with the biggest weight loss occurring during the first year post-surgery. Remember that the weight you lose will depend on your body composition, health and chosen procedure.

How do I choose the best procedure for me?

Many factors include your current health, medical history, weight loss goals, whether you've had bariatric surgery before and associated risk factors. Your AdventHealth bariatric surgeon will consider all these factors to help you make the best decision for your needs and goals.

How long does the surgery take?

Bariatric surgery for weight loss takes one to four hours, depending on the procedure and any complications. For example, gastric sleeve and gastric bypass procedures normally take up to two hours, while duodenal switch usually takes four to six hours.

Is bariatric surgery performed laparoscopically?

Most weight loss surgery procedures are performed through laparoscopic surgery, a minimally invasive surgical technique that requires only small incisions in the abdomen. It can allow quicker healing, less scarring, and a lower chance of complications from the incision.

What is the recovery time for bariatric surgery?

After your surgery, you can expect to stay in the hospital for a few days so your doctor can monitor you for any surgical complications. Most patients fully recover within four to six weeks. However, everyone is different, so your recovery time may differ.

What dietary changes will I need to make?

Your AdventHealth bariatric care team will educate you about the dietary changes you'll need to make after your surgery. You'll be limited to a liquid diet for the first few weeks, followed by soft foods for a few weeks, which will help your body adjust to eating smaller amounts of food. Additionally, you will want to avoid foods and drinks high in sugar or fat and focus on high-protein foods.

Can weight regain occur after bariatric surgery?

Yes, it is possible to regain weight after surgery, often because patients do not follow the necessary lifestyle changes needed to both lose weight and keep it off. Your AdventHealth bariatric health team will educate you on methods to keep the weight off after your bariatric surgery successfully.

Bariatric Surgery

Smiling woman walking and looking at her phone while carrying a bag of groceries.

Transform Your Health With Bariatric Surgery

If you are obese and struggle with losing weight, bariatric surgery offers a way to not only lose weight but also reduce the health risks associated with obesity, such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and cancer.

There are several options when it comes to bariatric surgery for weight loss. Let's talk more about those options, what you can expect during the process and how to tell if weight loss surgery is right for you.

A woman talks to her health care provider about bariatric surgery.

Deciding to have bariatric surgery for weight loss is one of the biggest decisions you will make. Not only does it change your body physically, but it requires a mindset change towards eating healthier and increasing your physical activity.

If you are interested in learning more about bariatric surgery and have questions about the procedures and whether you qualify, find your nearest AdventHealth bariatric surgery center to set up a consultation.

Over the years, many other weight loss surgery options have been introduced, giving patients various options based on their health journey. Here are your options available at AdventHealth by expert bariatric surgeons who specialize in you:

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery: This procedure gets its name from its resulting Y-shape as roux-en-y means "in the form of a Y" in French. During this procedure, the stomach is divided into a small top section — or small pouch — attached directly to the small intestine, allowing food to "bypass" the rest of the stomach. The resulting small stomach pouch holds a smaller amount of food, keeping you from overeating and feeling fuller for longer.
Sleeve Gastrectomy: Sleeve gastrectomy is the most popular type of bariatric surgery performed in the U.S. Also known as gastric sleeve surgery, this procedure removes about 80% of a person's stomach, causing it to look like a tube or "sleeve." Like gastric bypass, this surgery also limits how much a person can eat at one time and increases a feeling of fullness for longer by eliminating the portion of the stomach that creates ghrelin, also known as the "hunger hormone."
Duodenal Switch Procedure: Also known as biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD-DS), this weight loss surgery also calls for the removal of between 70%-80% of a person's stomach, once again forming a tube. Additionally, a part of the small intestine is modified to leave a smaller section for food to pass through, allowing food to bypass the remainder of the small intestine. Not only does the duodenal switch technique limit how much food a person can eat, but it also reduces the calories and nutrients the small intestine absorbs and helps decrease the hunger hormones normally made by the stomach and small intestine.
Gastric Band Revision: Gastric banding — where an adjustable band was placed around the upper portion of the stomach to restrict how much food a person could eat — was very popular from the 1990s to the early 2000s. Since then, it has lost popularity as newer, more effective techniques have been introduced.
A gastric band revision is performed when a person wants to have their gastric band removed or adjusted. Depending on your current health and weight loss needs, your doctor will discuss the best options if you are considering a gastric band revision.
Robotic Bariatric Surgery: One of the newer techniques for weight loss is robotic bariatric surgery. This minimally invasive procedure uses a robotic system to conduct gastric sleeve or bypass surgeries. Using a robotic system to perform the surgeries may decrease some risks involved with these types of procedures, such as infection and bleeding.

To be eligible, people wishing to have weight loss surgery must meet several requirements. These qualifications include:

Body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher
BMI between 35 or higher while also having a serious weight-related health issue, such as high blood pressure
Age 18 or older
Proof that you've tried losing weight by other methods
Committed to making weight loss lifestyle changes, such as eating healthy and exercising
Healthy enough to undergo surgery

Additionally, most bariatric surgery candidates must undergo a psychological evaluation to ensure they are mentally and emotionally ready for this type of surgery with realistic expectations.

The Bariatric Surgery Process

Your weight loss surgery journey begins with talking to an AdventHealth bariatric surgeon to determine whether you qualify for the surgery. Our bariatric team members will also help you determine whether your insurance will cover your operation.

If your doctor decides you are a candidate for surgery, you will need to undergo some routine medical tests, have your psychological evaluation and attend medical weight management classes a few months before your surgical date.

What to Expect Before, During and After Bariatric Surgery

Regardless of which bariatric surgery procedure you and your doctor choose, all will require certain lab tests and screenings before surgery, such as:

Blood tests
Heart tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG)
Live function tests
Stomach ultrasound
X-rays

Your bariatric health care providers will ensure you understand what to expect during the surgical procedure and how to prepare for surgery. For example, sometimes, you must change your diet or medications before surgery.

Because these surgeries are done under general anesthesia, you can expect to stay in the hospital for a few days before going home. You will also be provided with pain medication as needed.

You will be instructed to follow a liquid-only diet for one to two weeks after surgery. For the next two to six weeks, you will stick to soft foods to allow your body to get used to your revised digestive system and stay away from any sugary or processed foods and drinks.

It's common to experience nausea, vomiting or fatigue as your body adjusts.

Your AdventHealth bariatric health care team will monitor your health and weight loss and provide support for questions or concerns you may have.

How Can Bariatric Surgery Improve Your Life

Bariatric surgery can be life-changing for people who struggle with losing weight. Losing weight helps to make it easier to be physically active and expand your interests in different activities that maybe you felt you couldn't do before. It can also relieve joint pain in the knees and hips, chronic lower back pain, and related diseases.

Bariatric surgery for weight loss can help improve a person's mental state, heighten self-esteem and boost mood. It can also help stop sleep apnea, which can harm a person's mental health.

Past studies show that weight loss can improve and lower the risks for several health problems, including:

Cardiovascular disease
Certain cancers, including breast, gastric, and ovarian cancers
Gastroesophageal reflux
High blood pressure (hypertension)
High cholesterol
Kidney disease
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Osteoarthritis
Stroke
Type 2 diabetes

Why Choose Us

AdventHealth's bariatric care team is here to help you meet your weight loss and overall health goals. Our team of surgeons, dietitians and other health care professionals have decades of experience assisting people like you who want to lose weight and improve their quality of life.

Both in-person and virtual consultations are available to help you take the first step on your weight loss journey. Our team provides a fully personalized plan tailored to your health needs and goals.

Deciding to undergo weight loss surgery is a big decision. Throughout the process, our board-certified bariatric surgeons, with decades of combined experience, will be with you at every step to provide support, answer questions and discuss concerns before and after your procedure.

Our bariatric team is recognized for excellence in bariatric care and long-term outcomes. We do more than perform surgery; our professionals can also offer non-surgical weight loss options if you do not qualify or wish for surgery. Our non-surgical weight loss programs are medically supervised and tailored to your needs. Patients in our care often see improvements in Type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea and joint pain.

Question: How much weight can I expect to lose after bariatric surgery?

Answer:

Weight loss surgery patients usually lose between 50 and 70% of their body weight, with the biggest weight loss occurring during the first year post-surgery. Remember that the weight you lose will depend on your body composition, health and chosen procedure.
Question: How do I choose the best procedure for me?

Answer:

Many factors include your current health, medical history, weight loss goals, whether you've had bariatric surgery before and associated risk factors. Your AdventHealth bariatric surgeon will consider all these factors to help you make the best decision for your needs and goals.
Question: How long does the surgery take?

Answer:

Bariatric surgery for weight loss takes one to four hours, depending on the procedure and any complications. For example, gastric sleeve and gastric bypass procedures normally take up to two hours, while duodenal switch usually takes four to six hours.
Question: Is bariatric surgery performed laparoscopically?

Answer:

Most weight loss surgery procedures are performed through laparoscopic surgery, a minimally invasive surgical technique that requires only small incisions in the abdomen. It can allow quicker healing, less scarring, and a lower chance of complications from the incision.
Question: What is the recovery time for bariatric surgery?

Answer:

After your surgery, you can expect to stay in the hospital for a few days so your doctor can monitor you for any surgical complications. Most patients fully recover within four to six weeks. However, everyone is different, so your recovery time may differ.
Question: What dietary changes will I need to make?

Answer:

Your AdventHealth bariatric care team will educate you about the dietary changes you'll need to make after your surgery. You'll be limited to a liquid diet for the first few weeks, followed by soft foods for a few weeks, which will help your body adjust to eating smaller amounts of food. Additionally, you will want to avoid foods and drinks high in sugar or fat and focus on high-protein foods.
Question: Can weight regain occur after bariatric surgery?

Answer:

Yes, it is possible to regain weight after surgery, often because patients do not follow the necessary lifestyle changes needed to both lose weight and keep it off. Your AdventHealth bariatric health team will educate you on methods to keep the weight off after your bariatric surgery successfully.

Bariatric Surgery

Transform Your Health With Bariatric Surgery

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