6 Months After Bariatric Surgery: Post-op Instructions
Medically Reviewed by Katelyn J. Mock, US-Registered Dietician (R.D.)
By six months or half a year after surgery, most people have noticed a significant slowdown in their weight loss. This is completely normal and to be expected.
This slowdown in weight loss, in no way, means that you are done losing weight. In general, at this point after surgery, it is normal to lose 1-2 lbs. per week and potentially less than that the more petite you are.
If you have hit a plateau for more than 4 weeks, refer back to month 4 for some tips on beating those long-lasting plateaus.
Vitamin D is the most common nutrient deficiency at 5 years of post-bariatric surgery. Make sure you are taking a Vitamin D supplement daily.
General recommendations after surgery are 3,000 IU/day total. Check your calcium supplements to see if they also contain vitamin D. [1] American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery integrated health nutritional guidelines for the surgical weight loss patient 2016 update: Micronutrients. Surgery for obesity and related diseases. 2017.
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Tip of the Month
Call your primary physician’s office to have your labs checked.
It is important to have your labs drawn at least twice your first year after surgery and then if everything is within normal limits, at least once yearly after that.
Below is the list of labs to have checked after surgery:
- Vitamin D 25-OH
- Parathyroid (>65pg/mL) means you could have a calcium deficiency Ionized Calcium
- Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)
- MMA (Methylmalonic Acid)
- RBC folate
- Thiamine (B1)
- PT & INR
- Serum Vitamin A & Plasma Retinol
- Iron-including serum iron, TIBC, Ferritin, MCV, RDW, HGB, and HCT
- Serum Zinc
- Serum Copper
- Serum Selenium
In addition to this list of labs, you will want to have a DXA scan every 2 years. The DXA scan measures your bone density. Because your body absorbs nutrients differently after surgery, this is an important test to have done to ensure your bones are staying strong. [1] American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery integrated health nutritional guidelines for the surgical weight loss patient 2016 update: Micronutrients. Surgery for obesity and related diseases. 2017.
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Sources:
- Parrott, Julie M.S, R.D.N., Frank, Laura Ph.D., M.P.H, R.D.N, C.D., Rabena, Rebecca R.D.N., L.D.N., Craggs-Dino, Lillian D.H.A., R.D.N., L.D.N., Kellene A. Isom, M.S., R.D.N., Laura Greiman, M.P.H., R.D.N. American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery integrated health nutritional guidelines for the surgical weight loss patient 2016 update: Micronutrients. Surgery for obesity and related diseases. 2017.
