How Your Diet Will Change After Weight Loss Surgery

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- As a leading weight loss surgeon, Michael Feiz, M.D., F.A.C.S. utilizes today's most effective procedures to give patients the positive results they're looking for. Even so, many patients worry about the adjustments they'll have to make once their surgery is over. For many people, food is thought of not only as sustenance, but as a key component of who they are. A person's diet can be informed not only by their lifestyle but also their cultural heritage. For that reason, weight loss surgery patients often worry that they won't be able to adjust to a radically different new diet. Dr. Michael Feiz, a respected LA area bariatric surgeon, understands patients' curiosity, and has the answers people are looking for. While it's critical that every patient follows the specific instructions given by their doctor, it is possible to provide some insights on what most patients can expect.

Post-Op

In the days following surgery, patients must maintain a liquid diet of semi-solid foods that might consist of broth, unsweetened juice, sugar-free gelatin, or strained cream soup. Hydration becomes very important after weight loss operations, but patients will be very limited when it comes to what they may drink. The common guideline is a regimen of six to eight cups of fluid that are non-carbonated, caffeine-free, and calorie-free. Bariatric surgeons also normally recommend that patients not drink with their meals, but rather give themselves 30 minutes before and after eating to help prevent nausea or vomiting.

After a patient exhibits a tolerance for liquid foods, a doctor will typically recommend a diet of pureed meals that will last for two to four weeks. Foods may include yogurt, beans, egg whites, fish, soft fruits and veggies, or lean meats as long as they have been thoroughly mashed, have the consistency of a smooth paste, and lack any solid pieces. Because the digestive system is still healing, a patient may be sensitive to dairy products or spicy food which is not recommended during recovery.  

Recovery
The completion of this phase leads to the inclusion of soft, solid foods into a patient's diet. Examples include cooked vegetables, soft fruit, or ground or finely diced meats. Food must be soft enough to mash with a fork. After about eight weeks, a doctor will determine if a patient is ready to return to solid foods. Because everyone's body is different, experts like Dr. Feiz will closely monitor a patient's progress throughout the entire recovery process to help determine what foods are right to introduce at what time. As the digestive system continues to strengthen, new foods will slowly and gradually be added.  

As a patient begins to return to a normal diet, they will still only be able to consume very small amounts of food in one sitting, about a cup at a time. Because certain foods may cause nausea or pain after surgery, patients must try new foods, one at a time, to determine if their bodies are ready. As time passes, they will gradually be able to tolerate foods that tend to cause discomfort like bread, pasta, rice, meat, and carbonated beverages, but recovery time is unique to each individual. For more information on post-op recovery and weight loss surgery, call Dr. Feiz and Associates at 310-855-8058, or visit Dr. Feiz's website.

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SOURCE Dr. Feiz and Associates