• Monitoring your progress:

Follow-up appointments allow your healthcare team to monitor your progress after surgery. They will evaluate your weight loss, general health, and any potential complications. By attending these appointments, you allow your healthcare professionals to make any necessary adjustments to your treatment plan and ensure that you’re on track towards achieving your weight loss goals.

• Identifying and managing complications:

Bariatric surgery, like any other surgery, has potential risks and complications. Regular follow-up appointments allow your healthcare team to identify and treat any complications that may arise. They can detect problems such as infections, nutrient deficiencies, dumping syndrome or gallstones and provide appropriate treatment.  

• Nutritional guidance: 

Bariatric surgery changes the way the body absorbs and processes nutrients. Follow-up appointments provide the opportunity to seek advice from a registered dietitian or dietitian who is specialized in bariatric surgery. They can provide valuable information on dietary changes, meal plans, and whether you’re making sure your nutritional needs are being met. 

• Feeling isolated or depressed after surgery:

Mild depression is common after weight loss surgery. It may take a few months after surgery to get used to it. Weight loss surgery has an emotional impact, so talk to your doctor if you’re feeling down.

• Loss of appetite:

Most people experience anorexia after surgery. Some people lose interest in foods they once wanted to eat or found attractive. This is caused by the production of ketone bodies resulting from metabolized fat. Stomach size is significantly reduced after bariatric surgery, and hormonal changes can affect appetite regulation. A smaller stomach makes you feel full more quickly, so you will feel full sooner after eating. Additionally, surgery can affect the production and release of certain hormones that regulate hunger and satiety. 

• Behavioural support:

Adapting to life after bariatric surgery requires significant lifestyle changes, including dietary changes and the introduction of healthy habits. Follow-up appointments often include counselling and support groups where you can discuss challenges, receive guidance, and connect with others who have undergone similar procedures. This support group will help you stay motivated and ensure long-term success. 

• Exercise after Bariatrics Surgery:

You should consult with your care team before resuming or beginning an exercise regimen post-surgery. Most patients can begin working out about six weeks after their procedure, but you should begin walking a few minutes each day as soon as you return home.

• Long-term health monitoring:

Bariatric surgery not only helps with weight loss, but it also improves or addresses obesity-related health problems, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea. Long-term health monitoring involves managing and monitoring these conditions to assess improvements and adjust medications or treatment plans accordingly. Regular follow-up appointments allow your health care team to monitor these conditions, adjust medications as needed.

• Preventing weight regain: 

While weight loss surgery is a powerful tool for weight loss, it is not a standalone solution. Regular follow-up appointments play an important role in preventing weight gain back by providing guidance, accountability, and ongoing support. Your healthcare team can help you identify potential barriers, develop long-term weight maintenance strategies, and offer behavioural interventions if needed. 

• General benefits: 

Post-operative care goes beyond weight loss and physical health. Follow-up appointments are an opportunity for your health care team to assess your mental health, address any concerns or challenges you may be facing, and refer you to additional support services if necessary.