Gastric Banding Recovery Time: What to Expect

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Many patients are understandably curious about gastric banding recovery time. What is the typical recovery time for gastric banding? It’s just one of the questions we hear most often from people about to undergo bariatric (weight loss) surgery.

As your bariatric surgeon, we will provide you with all the information you need to make the best choice for you and your health. This applies to questions about if you need to take days or a week off from work, the amount of food one can eat before and after surgery (e.g., soft foods, liquids only), and how much excess weight one will lose.

Of course, questions and answers of this type depend on the type of surgery. We will provide advance knowledge and recommendations and continue to provide you with care for many weeks after surgery.

We know that undergoing surgery of any kind can be nerve-wracking and overwhelming. No matter how much research you do (for example, looking into potential side effects, such as blood clots, or other medical conditions based on your personal information and health), there is still a feeling of the unknown.

However, knowing as much as you can ahead of time can help put your mind at ease. This is true regardless of the procedure (gastric bypass surgery, sleeve gastrectomy, or laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding or Lap-Band).

If you are scheduled for gastric banding surgery, otherwise known as Lap-Band surgery, here are some important things to keep in mind.

Gastric Banding Recovery Time Varies

Bariatric surgery has a varying recovery time, depending on the overall health of the patient and the type of procedure that is completed. Weight loss surgery generally requires one day in the hospital and several weeks of recovery. Because the procedure is completed laparoscopically, the recovery time is a lot quicker than if you were to have a more invasive surgery.

The gastric band surgery does not require any rerouting or cutting of the stomach or intestines, making it one of the surgeries that has less recovery time. It can usually be performed in an outpatient center and most of the time, patients can go home the same day. If there are complications or other concerns that the surgeon and medical team are aware of, there may be hospital time required.

After the surgery, it will take about a month for the stomach to recover from the procedure. This is when you will go back in for first lap band adjustment. You will be on a liquid diet for the first part of recovery, and then you can slowly work your way up to solid foods. Your team of nutritionists at Oregon Weight Loss Surgery will discuss what foods are recommended and help ensure you know how much you can eat and when. Following those guidelines is a critical part to a successful recovery and will help put you on the path toward weight loss.

Learn more about gastric banding surgery and see if it’s right for you by calling our team at Oregon Weight Loss Surgery. We look forward to helping you lose weight and transform your life!

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