Some Bariatric Surgery Operations work on closing the stomach, the other operations aim to apply adjustments to the digestive system.

1 – Gastric Balloon: This procedure is done using the endoscope with no need for general anesthesia, an elastic balloon is placed in the stomach. With this technique, the patient will feel the stomach full because of the balloon. The patient will lose weight because of eating small amounts of food.

2 – Gastric Band: This procedure is done by placing silicone tape between the esophagus and the stomach, it is finished by opening small incisions with the endoscope, and the recovery process is fast. This procedure provides a very effective solution, by making the patient feel full, which leads to weight loss as with Gastric balloons. Therefore, in 18-24 months, the patient can lose 60-80% of excess weight.

3 – Gastric Sleeve: In this technique, the stomach is minimized by removing the responsible part about hunger hormone excretion. the recovery process is fast in this technique and the patient can leave on the same day. Thanks to this technique, patients will feel full stomach and consume fewer amounts of food, so they will lose weight with no effort. It is possible to lose 80-90% of excess weight, especially in the next couple of years after the procedure.

4 – Gastric Bypass: In this technique, a large part of the stomach is connected to the small intestine, which leads to a smaller stomach. No external objects are inserted into the body in this technique. The Gastric Bypass technique makes the absorption of food less, which leads to weight loss.

The post-surgery diet plan consists several of stages. How long each stage lasts and what you can eat and drink will be determined by your healthcare provider or dietitian.

All stages stress the importance of controlling your portions. This habit will help you continue to lose weight and prepare you for how you’ll eat for the rest of your life.

During stage 1, your nutritional intake is geared toward helping your body heal from surgery. Your diet can help you to avoid postoperative complications.

For the first few days, you’re only allowed to drink a few ounces of clear liquids at a time. This helps your stomach heal without being stretched out by food.

After clear liquids, you’ll graduate to additional types of liquid, including:

• decaffeinated coffee and tea
• skim milk
• thin soup and broth
• unsweetened juice
• °sugar-free gelatin
• sugar-free ice pops

Once your doctor decides you’re ready, you can move on to stage 2. This stage consists of puréed foods that have a thick, pudding-like consistency.

Many foods can be puréed at home with a food processor, blender or other device.

Spicy seasonings may irritate the stomach, so avoid these completely or try them one at a time. Avoid fruits and vegetables that have lots of seeds, such as strawberries or kiwi. You should also stay away from foods that are too fibrous to liquefy, such as broccoli and cauliflower.

Instead, choose foods that liquefy well, such as:

 

Fruitsapplesauce, bananas, canned fruits, peaches, apricots, pears, pineapples, melons, vegetables, spinach, carrots, summer squash, green beans, proteinyogurt, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, beef, chicken, turkey, white fish (cod, tilapia, haddock) and scrambled eggs.

 

Stage 2 baby foods (which don’t contain solids) and vegetable juices.

 

However, at this stage, it’s important not to drink fluids with your meals.

You’ll probably eat nothing but puréed food for several weeks. Once your doctor decides you’re ready, you can start building soft, easy-to-chew foods into your diet. These may include:

• soft-boiled eggs
• ground meat
• baked or steamed white fish
• canned fruits, such as peaches or pears.

It is important to eat small bites. Eat a little at a time and practice good portion control.

Stage 4 of the gastric operation diet includes the reintroduction of solid food. It typically begins about 2 months after surgery.

Because your stomach is much smaller, you’ll still need to dice or chop your food into small bites. Large pieces of food may cause a blockage, which can lead to pain, nausea and vomiting.

Introduce new foods slowly. That way, you can best determine which ones your stomach can tolerate and which ones to avoid. Eliminate any food that causes abdominal discomfort, vomiting or nausea.

Foods and drinks to avoid in stage 4:

Certain foods and drinks shouldn’t be attempted yet, such as those that are hard to digest. These include:

• fibrous or stringy vegetables, such as pea pods
• popcorn
• corn on the cob
• carbonated beverages, such as sodas and seltzer
• tough meat
• fried foods
• crunchy foods, such as pretzels, granola, seeds and nuts
• dried fruit
• bread and bread products, such as muffins

About 4 months after surgery, you may be able to resume eating normally.

However, portion control is still important. Make sure your diet consists mostly of fruits, vegetables, lean protein and healthy carbohydrates. Avoid unhealthy foods that are high in fat, carbohydrates and calories.

Eating well means you can enjoy continued health without putting weight back on.

The guidelines for your postoperative diet will also serve you throughout life. They include:

• Eat and drink slowly.
• Practice portion control.
• Listen to your body. If you can’t tolerate a food, such as something spicy or fried, don’t eat it.
• Avoid high-fat and high-sugar foods.
• Enjoy beverages between meals, but not during meals.
• Drink enough daily to avoid dehydration.
• Eat only small pieces of food at a time and chew each piece thoroughly.
• Take the vitamins your doctor recommends.
• Lifestyle changes after your surgery

You may feel motivated to begin or resume an exercise program. Right after surgery, you need to let your body heal. Go slowly.

Low-impact exercises are a good option for the first month. These include walking and swimming. You may also benefit from simple yoga poses, stretching and deep breathing exercises.

Over the next several months, you can slowly build up to strength training and cardio workouts.

Think in terms of movement as well as exercise. Simple lifestyle changes can be physical fitness boosters, such as:

• walking instead of riding the bus
• parking farther away from your destination
• taking the stairs instead of the elevator