Your surgery is just one step in your health transformation journey. To have excellent results one needs to be committed to post-surgery follow-ups and appointments. This will help you achieve the goal of better health for a lifetime.
The First Year Post-Surgery:
In the first year post your bariatric surgery you will have monthly follow up appointments where the surgeon will monitor your progress and offer assistance accordingly. If you are doing well, your visits and follow-ups can possibly be lessened to every six weeks.
A typical first-year follow-up schedule for a patient is detailed below:
One Week After Surgery:
You will have to attend a one-week post-operative nutritional class with other patients and the bariatric dietitian as well as the surgeon.
Two Weeks After Surgery:
You will be seen in the clinic for your first post-operative visit. Where your wounds will be checked thoroughly and any questions that you might have will be answered by the experts. If it all goes well, you can make the transition to the next phase of your diet. You will have to start taking the life-long regimen of vitamin and mineral supplements.
Three Weeks After Surgery:
You will have to attend a three-week post-operative nutritional class with other patients and the bariatric dietitian who will jot your progress and make suggestions accordingly.
Four Weeks After Surgery:
Visiting the clinic for a routine check-up to assess your dietary intake, to determine how well the wounds have healed, obtaining- body mass index, body weight, fat mass, and fat-free mass and get answers for any question asked.
Monthly:
Each month, you need to be seen for the general assessments. A prescription will be given for blood tests to be performed two weeks before your six-month post-operative appointment. You may also be seen by other team members if advised by your doctor.
Six Months:
Prior to the 6-month appointment, you should have the six-month series of blood tests done. Because there can be a possibility of vitamin or mineral deficiencies and associated complications, like anemia. Therefore you must have the following blood tests: Complete Blood Count (CBC), liver function tests, Complete Metabolic Panel (CMP), and blood tests for measuring certain vitamins, iron, and thyroid and parathyroid function. Your surgeon might add or delete certain tests depending upon the need of an individual. Furthermore, you might also have dietary assessments and may be seen by nutrition/exercise professionals.
One Year:
During the yearly visit, you will have an overall check-up, routine follow-up examination, assessment of the quality of your life, measurement of anthropometrics, and your picture will be taken. Dietary concerns will be addressed at this period, optional consultations with the dietitian and behavioral health provider might also take place if suggested by the medical expert.
Annual Lifetime Office Visits:
The candidate should see the medical surgeon annually. This will help avoid and resolve post-bariatric surgery issues that might occur with time. Being committed to your health can provide a better lifestyle forever. It is important to keep track of your progress which needs a yearly follow up.
These follow-ups are significant for better and long-term results. Connect with a professional bariatric surgeon who provides the best post-surgery processes.