Recovery in the Hospital

For laparoscopic surgeries (involving smaller cuts), the recovery time is shorter. Most people stay in the hospital for 1-2 days. Open surgeries with larger incisions can take a relatively longer time to heal. Hospital stay may have to be extended for patients who develop complications after the surgery.

Recovery at Home

This is the most crucial phase of the weight-loss regimen. The average time for full recovery from any bariatric procedure is around 4-6 weeks. But several factors determine the length of time to resume normal activities, including age, type of surgery, weight before the surgery, overall health condition etc.

The dramatic weight loss can adversely affect health if you do not follow the protocols by your doctor. For instance, soon after the surgery, you will be taking in fewer calories than before and the way your body responds to it and absorbs would also have changed. This may lead to malnutrition in some cases. Poor nutrition will also slow healing time. Lack of adequate vitamins & minerals can extend the time for recovery from a few weeks to several months. Talk to your doctor for any concern you have post-operation.

Resuming Normal Activities

There cannot be a set period to resume normal activities as each individual is different, and each surgery is different.

A person who is above 50 years might take a longer time to get back to normalcy than the younger counterparts.
Comorbidities such as diabetes may involve a longer healing time. It is hence vital to switch to a healthier lifestyle months before the surgery and stick to it post-surgery, for the rest of your life. This way, the body can respond to changes quickly and facilitate quick recovery.

Most patients can return to work in 1-4 weeks. It is essential to consider the nature of your work. If you have a desk job, things might be easier than for the ones who have a physically strenuous job. Also, patients involved in a lot of physical activities could be at the risk of developing a hernia at the point of incision. It is thus essential to be open with your employer about all the issues.

However, there is a difference between resuming normal activities and complete recovery. You might have picked up your work, but the process of healing is still not complete. The best thing is to convince the employer about how your productivity can increase manifold if you are provided with the right support at this point!

How can We Expedite the Recovery Process and Quickly Get Back to Normalcy?

Few Tips –

• Make it a thumb rule to follow your doctor & dietician’s advice. A healthy diet and timely food are crucial.
• Drink the right quantity of water as advised by your doctor.
• A good eight hours of sleep is essential to allow your body to heal and perform normal activities during the day.
• Take short breaks. Balance your work and resting time.
• Exercising is a must. Start with short walks. For core exercises, talk to your doctor and trainer.
• Resuming normal activities is one thing, but complete recovery is the long-term goal. So, while pushing on with normal activities, it is crucial to focus on ‘healing’ for desired results.