Weight loss surgery puts the tools for weight loss in the hands of people who are ready to take back control of their life, lose the weight, and get healthy. What most people who have come to this decision have realized, weight loss surgery is not a magic pill for getting skinny. Surgery of any kind is a big deal and the decision to undergo surgery shouldn’t be made lightly. But there is also the importance of making the appropriate lifestyle changes that will support continued weight loss and great health. Recovery from weight loss surgery is a big part of making the decision to have the surgery at all and patients should be sure to educate themselves thoroughly on what to expect from their recovery and living a life following surgery.

Some things to consider regarding weight loss surgery recovery include:

• A support system. Following surgery, there is a recovery period during which it is important to rest and heal. It’s important to have a support system at the ready – friends or family – that can be there for you during this time so that you can relax and heal.
• Understanding how to change your lifestyle. Weight loss surgery only starts you on the path to weight loss, limiting what you can eat at any given time. But the rest is completely and totally up to you. It is important that you fully understand what you need to do to reach your weight loss goal and stay there.
• Weight loss is a process. Some people may think that they wake up from surgery and within a few months they will drop all the weight they have to lose. Weight loss is a journey whether you have surgery or not and there will sometimes be plateaus. It is important to continue doing the work and know that consistency pays off.

Recovery from weight loss surgery is different for anyone. So it’s important to work closely with your doctors in preparing for your surgery, recovery, and the life to follow.