Post Operative Recovery

Keep in mind surgery is only a tool. Commitment to keeping your follow-up visits will equal success.

It is also important to meet with your nutritionist to help keep you on track. Our nutritionists will work with you to help you attain your weight loss goal. Call our office for an appointment.

Follow-up Visits

You should keep regularly scheduled visits with the nutritionist as well as with the surgeon. All patients are seen within 7 to 10 days after surgery.

Gastric Banding patients are then seen at 6 weeks and a minimum of monthly thereafter for the first year. At one year gastric band patients will undergo laboratory tests to check vitamin and supplement levels as well as an UGI to check the placement of the band. After that patients are seen at least once a year or more often if needed/requested by the patient. Remember that adjustments to the band are absolutely essential to ensure adequate weight loss.

Gastric Bypass and Gastric Sleeve patients are seen at 1 week, 1 month , 2 months, 3 months, 6 months and yearly. Gastric Bypass patients will have their vitamin and supplement levels checked at 6 months and then yearly thereafter.

Keep in mind, that surgery is not the "easy way out." This is a difficult process that takes time and commitment from you in order to be successful.

Regular visits with the surgeon are essential to make sure that your progress remains on track.

Take It Off & Keep It Off

Enroll in our Take It Off & Keep It Off club! You made a major step in your life deciding on weight loss surgery. It is our promise that we will walk with you on your path to healthier lifestyle with 24/7 support. We are here to offer guidance, assistance and support. We are on the same team and here to be your coach to knock out Diabetes, Hypertension, Sleep Apnea, High Cholesterol and any conditions that keep you from enjoying a healthier lifestyle. You will be the winner and champion and successful in every round! Our premier bariatric practice has a comprehensive follow up program. Your follow up is equal to, if not more important than surgery itself.

What does this club include?

• Body Composition: provides in-depth analysis of the percentage of both total body fat and visceral fat as well as percent water and fat-free mass. Why Measure Body Fat?
• RMR (resting metabolic rate): By measuring your resting metabolic rate, we can get a more precise assessment of how much energy (or fuel) your body burns in a day. We can therefore determine how many calories you need to consume to either lose or maintain your weight. It can be done right in our office in just 10 minutes and then syncs to our mobile App, giving you 24/7 customized support to reach your personal goals. Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) Testing
• APP: Our exclusive App allows you to track your food, exercise, and weight as well as set reminders for daily vitamins and water intake. Based on foods you like, The App will help guide and advise you on ways to stay on track and reach your nutritional and weight loss/maintenance goals. You will then receive personalized messages and feedback from our experts to continue reinforcing and updating your plan.

What is the cost?

A year membership is $120 or $15 per month if prefer to pay on month-to-month basis. We will give you a free body composition analysis when you sign-up.

How do I register?

To register, patients can call 201-530-1905 (English) or 201-530-1906 (Spanish) or order online.

Going Back to Work

Gastric Banding - approximately 1 week.
Gastric Bypass and Gastric Sleeve - approximately 2 weeks.

This is on a case by case basis and will be determined by your surgeon at your post op visit.

Sexual Activity/Pregnancy

You must use your judgement with resuming sexual activity following surgery. It is often best to wait for the first post op visit to ensure that you are feeling well and you have been checked by the surgeon prior to resuming sexual relations. Keep in mind, you should plan NOT to get pregnant for at least 18 months following gastric bypass or gastric sleeve surgery. If you have an adjustable gastric band, you should let your OB/GYN know. For gastric bypass and gastric sleeve patients, you must let your OB/GYN know that you have had the surgery as you will be required to take additional vitamins and supplements to support the baby and your nutritional needs.

Plastic Surgery

All patients that lose a significant amount of weight, whether it is rapidly or slowly will experience some degree of loose skin. Exercise can definitely help especially to maintain tone but usually will not completely prevent loose skin. This is a very individual process and depends on the degree of damage to your skin. You should not plan to consider plastic surgery until you are within 20-30lbs of your goal weight. If you are interested, a list of plastic surgeons can be provided to you or you may consult with any plastic surgeon you choose.