Your expert care team will work with you each step of your bariatric surgery and weight loss journey, ensuring that you are well educated and comfortable with your weight loss treatment plan.

The following information will help you plan and prepare for your surgery, so you know what to expect before and after bariatric surgery.

What to Expect Before Bariatric Surgery

Prior to arriving for your weight loss surgery, we ask that you take the following into consideration:

• Please shower or bathe with CHG scrub that is given to you at the Nursing Nutrition class, the night before and the morning of the bariatric surgery.
• You may brush your teeth the morning of your weight loss surgery, but do not swallow any water.
• Please leave jewelry and valuables at home.
• You may wear your eyeglasses if necessary.  If you wear contact lenses, let your care team know since they will need to be removed before you enter the operating room. 
• Be sure to bring your driver’s license (photo identification) and any health insurance cards.
• Bring a list of all medications you are currently taking.  Be sure to include the dosage and schedule you follow. 
• If you have an Advanced Directive, please bring a copy for the hospital to keep on file.

What to Expect After Bariatric Surgery

Typically, bariatric surgeries take 1 to 2 hours.  However, your surgeon will discuss the length of your particular bariatric surgery with you during an earlier consultation.  Following the weight loss surgery, you will be taken to a recovery room for an additional 1 to 2 hours where the nursing staff will monitor you as your anesthesia wears off.  Once you are stable, you will be transferred to the bariatric unit and will likely, be up and walking around within a few hours.

The bariatric nurses and rest of the care team will work closely with you to monitor your pain and answer any questions that you may have after your bariatric surgery. They will also encourage you get up and go for frequent walks.  It is recommended that you get up and walk every hour for at least five minutes.  This will reduce the risk of complications such as blood clots and pneumonia.

While in the hospital, your diet will advance from ice chips to clear liquids.  You can expect to follow a liquid diet for two weeks after surgery.

Dependent on your particular surgical approach, you will stay in the hospital from 1 to 3 days.  We are committed to your wellness and success.  With that in mind, we will see you to monitor your progress at 2 week, 6 week, 3 month, 6 month, 12 month, 18 month and annual follow up visits.

Support groups can also be helpful to you and instrumental in your success.  The Hurley Bariatric Center is pleased to offer you both medically supervised and peer support groups.  We offer two support groups every month.  One is held at the Hurley Bariatric Center located in Flint, Michigan, on the first Monday of each month.  The second is held at the Vassar Area Ambulance Base on the second Monday of every month.  Also, a lap band support group is held at the Hurley Bariatric Center every other month on the last Monday, and the peer support group is held at the Hurley Health and Fitness Center on the second and fourth Monday.  For more information on our support groups, please visit the bariatric surgery support groups page.