Bariatrics and Weight Loss Surgery

It depends on your condition and policy. Many insurance plans do cover weight-loss surgery. Our staff may be able to assist you in navigating the insurance process.

Worth noting, some insurance companies require that the surgery be performed at a facility that meets the ASMBS-approved quality standards (MBSAQIP). MedStar St. Mary’s is the only hospital in the Southern Maryland region to achieve this top accreditation.

To further help you communicate with your insurance company, there’s a non-profit group called The Obesity Action Coalition (OAC). They offer a free guide titled, “Working with Your Insurance Provider: A Guide to Seeking Weight-Loss Surgery.” You may find this information useful when applying for approval.

Electing to undergo bariatric surgery is a major decision and a life-changing event. In order to yield the best possible outcome, new behaviors in diet and activity may need to be established. Our process for bariatric surgery is detailed earlier on this page.

Since we use advanced techniques to minimize surgical incisions, you could be back home after just one day in the hospital but we request that everyone allow for a two-week recovery period. However, depending on the type of surgery, your recovery, and your work duties, you may be able to return to work as soon as one week after surgery.

Weight-loss operations have been performed and refined over many decades. Today, they are among the most studied procedures in medicine. With the advance of robotic-assisted surgery, there are now smaller incisions, less complications, shorter hospital stays, and faster recoveries. In fact, the complication rates for bariatric surgery are less than those for knee replacement, gallbladder removal, or a hysterectomy.

Yes, eventually you can eat normal foods after surgery. It is important to eat a healthy well-balanced diet that includes lean meats, fruits, vegetables, low-fat and fat-free dairy, and whole grains. However, there may be some foods that you should avoid, such as foods high in sugar and fat. Be aware, you will not be eating all of these foods immediately after surgery.

You must go through a slow diet progression from clear liquids to full liquids to soft foods, and then back to regular consistency foods. This diet progression allows your new stomach pouch to heal and adapt. Patients are usually on liquids for two weeks, soft foods for two weeks, and then back to regular foods at the fourth week after surgery.

It may take gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy patients a little longer to get back to regular consistency foods, but most people get there by six to eight weeks after surgery. Our goal is to help you get back to regular or "normal" foods, just smaller amounts of them.

On average, about 90% of patients lose at least 50-70% of their excess weight after bariatric surgery. These results take place over 12 to 18 months. And each bariatric procedure—and patient—has slightly different results. What’s more, patients usually feel more energetic and experience less pain as they begin to lose weight. This post-surgery weight loss can also result in hormonal changes, which can lead to even greater weight loss.

Bariatric surgery is a tool that helps you to lose weight along with lifestyle changes. Those lifestyle changes include making healthier food choices. We do not expect you to avoid eating out for the rest of your life, but please be mindful when ordering in a restaurant.

Some strategies for eating healthy when in a restaurant include choosing foods that are grilled, baked, or steamed instead of sautéed, breaded, or fried. 

And you should always avoid the free bread and chips provided at the beginning of the meal.

Post-surgery exercise will help increase your weight loss and also can help your skin retain elasticity. Therefore, you are encouraged to start walking often the day of surgery.

You should wait until your doctor gives you clearance before going back to your pre-operative exercise plan; this often happens at your first post-op visit within two weeks after surgery. Walking and water exercises are great post-surgery work-out options.

We recommend that all patients avoid drinking alcohol for the first 12-18 months after surgery and are strongly encouraged to abstain totally.

Alcohol is empty calories and will limit your weight loss in that precious 12-18 month period when you have the opportunity to get the maximum amount of weight off.  Additionally, due to the changed anatomy of the stomach and intestines and the alterations in digestion, alcohol absorption is much more rapid in gastric bypass patients.  This results in a higher blood alcohol level with a much quicker peak.

Many patients experience some hair loss or thinning after surgery. This usually occurs from three to seven months after surgery. Consistent intake of protein and vitamins as prescribed is the most important prevention method.

In general, removal of loose skin after weight loss is considered cosmetic plastic surgery, and most insurers won't cover it. However, some insurers will pay for it if the loose skin is causing medical problems, such as severe rashes or infection. Check with your insurance carrier for details.

Yes, it is recommended that bariatric patients select a complete multivitamin supplement that includes at least 18 mg iron, 400 mcg folic acid, selenium, and zinc.

Bariatric patients need to take this general multivitamin for the rest of their lives.

Bariatric patients are also instructed to take at least 1,500 mg of calcium in the form of daily supplements.

The vitamins and calcium supplements must be chewable for the first six weeks after surgery.

Some patients may require additional supplements, such as iron, folic acid, or Vitamin B12; your doctor will let you know if you need those.

Bariatric patients also use protein supplements, especially in the first few months after surgery, to help meet protein needs, since the amount of food is restricted.

After the first year or two, all bariatric patients are required to have life-long annual follow-ups and labs done to assess for nutritional deficiencies.

Generally, women are advised to wait 12-18 months. Following the procedure, most women become more fertile, even with moderate weight loss. In addition, there’s much less risk of problems during pregnancy and childbirth after the surgery. Children born after their mother’s surgery are also less at risk of being affected by obesity. This is due to the activation of certain genes during fetal growth.

Typical reasons for a weight loss plateau or weight regain include:

For those patients with an adjustable gastric band, lack of weight loss or weight regain may be an indication that an adjustment is needed.

We encourage frequent follow-up and can assist you in getting back on track.