Bariatric surgery post operative care is very important, especially in regards to movement and the body’s power supply.
We spoke with dr. Giuseppe Marinari, responsible for Bariatric Surgery at Humanitas.
Bariatric surgery post operative period precautions
During hospitalization you are monitored and guidance is provided. It is therefore sufficient to follow the doctors’ instructions. To reduce the risk of pulmonary embolism, a complication that rarely occurs, it is important to walk and move right away. Once back home, the patient will have to follow the instructions precisely and only eat the prescribed food.
With bariatric surgery post operatice care, a nutritional liquid or soft food will be prescribed for approximately 4 weeks. The only exception is the biliopancreatic diversion. Eating solid foods before the permitted period can cause serious surgical complications for the patient. The most important thing is to lead a normal life. Movement is critical but you should avoid intense efforts.
How can I go home after surgery?
You can use any means of transportation, whether by train, plane, car or anything else. The drive can be slightly more difficult and lead to a longer driving duration (slower driving). You should therefore stop every 2-3 hours to allow the patient to get out and move.
How soon can I get back to doing my daily activities?
It depends on the type of job you have. If it is a sedentary job that does not involve intense physical activity, the recovery can really be very quick. With laparoscopy, you can go back to work within just a few days after discharge from the hospital. If it comes to work more physically demanding that requires more intense efforts, such as that of a nurse, the minimum time before returning to work is one month.
When can I get pregnant?
In the early bariatric surgery post operative period, while your body is still recovering from the surgery, pregnancy is dangerous both for the mother’s health and for possible birth defects. Pregnancy is absolutely prohibited for at least 12 months.
What is reconstructive surgery and in how long will I be able to undergo this kind of surgery?
Losing weight means having excess skin. Especially in places with slimming like the abdomen, inner thighs, arms and breasts we often find skin folds which can generate a very annoying skin infection. To solve this problem we may need reconstructive surgery to reduce the folds.
Reconstructive plastic surgery is only an option at least 12 months after obesity surgery. It is recommended that reconstructive surgery be performed once your weight has stabilised in order to avoid having had a surgery which may need to be performed again if weight loss continues.
