Gastric bypass surgery is a major event with potentially serious postoperative complications. During the recovery period, it is extremely important that you follow all of the guidelines your doctor gives you to minimize your risks and to maximize your successful recovery.

Your hospital stay during gastric bypass recovery will be anywhere from two to six days, depending on the success of the surgery and how quickly your body heals. After you go home, take your time before returning to your normal routine. Slowly increase your level of activity over a period of several weeks, and follow your doctor's instructions on what activities are permitted.

Health Benefits of Gastric Bypass Surgery

Although no results are guaranteed, most people lose between 60 and 80 percent of their excess body weight within 18 months. Many will regain some of the weight but in long-term studies, most people keep at least 50 percent of the excess weight off for five years or more.

After gastric bypass recovery, co-morbid conditions, such as weight related heart disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, lower back pain and knee problems, usually improve or completely disappear. However, since the surgery causes your body to absorb fewer nutrients, it is important that you take the proper dietary supplements to prevent development of any serious deficiency-related diseases. Your doctor will probably require post-operative and follow up visits for the first two years after gastric bypass recovery to monitor your overall health and progress.

Cosmetic Considerations After Weight Loss

One of the more unpleasant results of losing large amounts of excess weight is having entirely too much skin after the fat is gone. This excess skin tends to hang loosely and very unattractively around the face, neck, breasts, upper and lower abdomen, flanks, armpits, back, buttocks, upper arms, forearms, thighs, legs and calves. The younger you are, the more likely you are that the skin will eventually tighten up and look normal. Older people will need to consider cosmetic surgery to get rid of all the loose, flabby skin.

Besides looking horrible, all this extra skin can also cause hygiene problems, shin irritation, infections, etc.--not too mention making it almost impossible to find clothes that both look good and fit properly. The most common cosmetic operations people have done are:

Tummy Tuck - This procedure removes excess skin around the waist and tightens the abdominal muscles.

Breast Reduction, Breast (Implants) and Breast Lift - Losing weight causes breasts to sag severely and get smaller, since some of the size is due to the fat underneath the skin. Implants or a breast lift can help restore a natural shape and firmness. In a few rare cases, a woman's breasts may still be too big and need to be reduced to improve appearance.

Male Breast Reduction - This procedure removes excess skin and corrects chest droopiness in men.

Face Lift, Eyelid Surgery, Neck Lift and Forehead Lift - Many people opt for facial plastic surgery to correct the sagging caused by time and then exacerbated by extreme weight loss.

Thigh Lift and Buttock Lift - These procedures basically lift, tighten and remove excess skin in the thigh and buttocks.

Arm Wing Removal, Arm Lift and Arm Reduction - These surgeries remove the unsightly wings often seen on older people, or lift and reduce the excess on the rest of the upper arm and in rare cases the lower arm.

Liposuction - A popular solution, liposuction removes stubborn fat in localized areas and "sculpt" the body.

The results of these cosmetic procedures can dramatically improve the quality of life for gastric bypass patients and some of them are covered by health insurance if considered medically necessary.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Craig Thompson, better known as "Big T," has a reputation for doing things in a mighty big way. The former sumo wrestler who used to tip the scales at 400 pounds has since reinvented himself as a singer and bandleader. As one of the earliest to have Gastric Bypass Surgery, in 1997, Thompson now helps others at www.RenewedReflections.com