Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBefore the SurgeryDuring the SurgeryAfter the Surgery

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Before the Surgery

During the Surgery

After the Surgery

Once you are dressed, a nurse will check your vital signs and place a peripheral IV in your arm. This IV is used to give you fluids and medications (e.g., an antibiotic and anesthesia drugs) prior to and during the surgery.

To preventblood clots, inflatable compression devices will likely be placed on your legs at this time. You may also be given a shot of blood-thinning medication.

Next, youranesthesiologistand your surgical team will come to greet you and briefly review the surgery with you. You may need to sign additional consent forms at this time.

Finally, you will be taken into the operating room where you will be given medication to put you to sleep. You will not feel any pain or have any memory of the operation.

Starting Anesthesia

Once you are in the operating room, an anesthesiologist will insert a tube through your mouth and into your airway. This tube is connected to aventilator, which helps with breathing during surgery. Aurinary catheterwill also be placed.

During the entire surgery, the anesthesiologist will remain in the operating room to monitor your vital signs and adjust your anesthesia medications, accordingly.

Creating the Stomach Pouch

Next, a pouch 30-milliliter (mL) in volume will be created from the top part of the stomach (the portion closest to the esophagus, where foods travel from your mouth). This new stomach pouch will then be removed from the rest of the stomach. The remaining “old” stomach will be stapled closed.

Dividing the Small Intestines

After creating the new stomach pouch, the surgeon will make an incision in the small intestines, dividing it into two parts. The lower part, called thejejunum, will be pulled up and connected to the newly formed stomach pouch. The remaining upper part, called theduodenum, will be attached to a lower part of the jejunum (below where the stomach is attached).

Stopping Anesthesia

Once the surgery is complete, the surgeon will close the abdominal incisions with dissolvable sutures or surgical staples. The breathing tube will be removed, anesthesia will be stopped, and you will be taken to a recovery room.

While in the recovery room, a post-operative care nurse will monitor your vital signs. Once you are awake, alert, and stable (about one to two hours after surgery), you will be moved to a hospital room where you can expect to stay for approximately two to five nights.

In preparing for discharge, you will be given various instructions to follow at home. These instructions will include recommendations on incision site care and activity restrictions.

Before leaving the hospital, you will also meet with anutritionistto review your diet plan. This plan will involve gradually progressing from consuming only clear liquids (week one) to eating solid foods (beginning around eight weeks, with just soft foods to start).

During your recovery, your surgeon and nutritionist will also advise you on the following:

A Word From Verywell

7 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Birkmeyer NJO, Finks JF, Carlin AM et al.Comparative effectiveness of unfractionated and low-molecular-weight heparin for prevention of venous thromboembolism following bariatric surgery.Observational Study Arch Surg.2012;147(11):994-8. doi:10.1001/archsurg.2012.2298

Lim RB.Bariatric operations for management of obesity: Indications and preoperative preparation. Jones D, ed. UpToDate. Waltham, MA: UpToDate.

University of California San Francisco Health.Recovery from bariatric surgery.

Your Weight Loss Surgery. University of California San Francisco Health.

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.Post bariatric surgery diet.

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.Phase 4: Stabilization diet for post-bariatric surgery patients.

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