During Your Hospital Stay After Weight Loss Surgery

Most Lap-Band® patients are able to return home the day of their surgery, while gastric-bypass patients usually have hospital stays that range from one to three days. You will be discharged when you are able to:

  • Have adequate pain control with medication
  • Have no fever
  • Take enough liquids and nutrients by mouth to prevent dehydration

During gastric-bypass surgery, one or two small tubes may be placed around the stomach pouch and the bypassed stomach to drain body fluids after the surgery. These are usually removed in 3 to 10 days. To help prevent blood clots, anti-embolism stockings or other compression devices will be placed on your legs and your surgeon will require you to attempt to stand up and move around as soon as possible, usually within the first 24 hours.

Depending on your medical condition, there is a possibility of being placed in the intensive care unit to closely monitor your heart and lungs. Patients who use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) for sleep apnea may be asked to bring their machines with them for use immediately after the operation.

For More Information
To learn more about lifestyle changes that you will need to make after weight loss surgery, please read life after weight-loss surgery.

To sign up for a free informational session, please call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277), Monday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm, or register online at Sharp's weight-loss surgery seminar.