Post Bariatric Surgery Recommendations
Congratulations on your new life
After bariatric surgery, a stage just as important as the procedure itself begins: your recovery. This period requires attention, discipline, and proper follow-up to achieve safe and lasting results. In this guide, you’ll find Dr. Sergio Del Hoyo’s essential recommendations for taking care of your diet, your body, and your health during this process.
Diet: Nutrition and Hydration
After surgery, nutrition is one of the most important pillars for a safe recovery and lasting results. Just as you followed a plan before your surgery, it’s now essential to strictly adhere to your post-operative diet.
This diet is designed in stages that must be followed in order, as your stomach is still adapting.
Main Instructions
- Follow the diet exactly as prescribed without skipping any phases
- Feeding is divided into liquids, purees, and a soft diet
- Eat slowly and in small portions.
- It is normal to feel fullness, pressure, or spasms after two or three spoonfuls
- Take breaks of two to three minutes before continuing
- For the first few days, use a spoon even for liquids.
- Natural water can be more difficult to transition to at first.
- All the liquids in your plan are water-based and are hydrating you.
- El consumo de electrolitos es importante
- You can prepare water with slices of lemon, grapefruit or orange to make it lighter.
Prescription and Medications
After surgery, you will receive a prescription with the medications you must take during your recovery. These are an essential part of your treatment.
It is very important that you follow these instructions exactly as given, without making any changes on your own.
Recommendations
- Respect dosage and schedules
- Do not stop any medication without consulting
- If you have any doubts, ask before changing any instructions.
Allowed Activities
One of the most common myths after surgery is that you must remain on complete bed rest. This is not true. Moderate movement is part of a proper recovery.
From the first few days, you can resume certain activities with moderation and common sense.
What is allowed:
- You can walk
- You can go up and down stairs
- Move around your house
- You can drive
- You can gradually return to your routine
Always listen to your body and avoid excessive exertion.
Follow-up Appointment
Medical follow-up is a fundamental part of the success of your surgery. It’s not just about the procedure itself, but also the support you receive afterward.
You should schedule a follow-up appointment with your doctor approximately four to five weeks after surgery.
It’s also essential that you schedule a consultation with a nutritionist, either in person or online.
Care: Bathing and Wounds
Caring for your wounds is simple, but very important to prevent infection and ensure proper healing. You can bathe normally using soap and water.
Instructions
- Wash wounds gently
- Do not rub the area
- Most stitches will dissolve on their own.
- If you notice a small thread or dot appearing, it's usually normal.
- Clean the area and let it heal.
If you notice anything unusual, contact the medical team.
What to do in emergency situations
Although complications are rare, it’s important to know when a situation requires immediate attention.
You should call immediately if you experience an emergency.
- High fever
- Intense and unbearable pain
- Constant vomiting
- Bleeding
In these cases, don’t send a message. Call directly.
