Postoperative Follow-up

Postoperative follow-up after gastric restrictive operations is extremely important.

Importance of Follow-ups

Patients who regularly keep their follow-up visits almost always lose more weight than those who skip their follow-ups. Follow-up visits are important other reasons as well:

1. The success of these operations is not determined at the time of discharge. Weight loss after stapled gastroplasty generally occurs over a nine to twelve month period, while weight loss after gastric bypass occurs for as long as 18 months after the operation.
   
   
2. Counseling by the nutritionist, who is experienced in treating patients after gastric restrictive operations, is important in making the transition from liquids to soft solid foods. The nutritionist will emphasize the importance of making appropriate food choices in order to maintain a balanced diet and to avoid the high calorie liquids and soft foods which can defeat the purpose of the operation.
   
   ALL gastric restrictive operations can be defeated by consuming too many calories. This is particularly true of the gastroplasty operations.
   
   
3. The follow-up visits are also very important in recognizing vitamin and iron deficiencies in the early stages so that appropriate treatment can be given. Gastric bypass patients who miss their regularly scheduled follow-up visits along with the necessary postoperative blood tests can eventually develop severe vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Severe deficiencies may require shots or blood transfusions.
   
   

Schedule of Postoperative Visits

	How many follow-up visits are necessary after surgery?
	Typically, patients will attend four to six follow-up meetings during the first year. After the first year, visits are scheduled at six to twelve month intervals for an indefinite period of time.

1. First visit:  scheduled for two or three weeks after discharge.
   
   
2. Second visit:  scheduled for four or five weeks after the operation. Solid diet is given.
   
   
3. Visits at approximately three-month intervals for the first year after the operation.
   
   
4. After the first year, follow-up visits are scheduled at six to twelve-month intervals for an indefinite period of time.
   
   

The operating surgeon and nutritionist meet together with all postoperative patients at each visit.