Post- Bariatric Surgery Myths

Post- Bariatric Surgery Myths

You may have some fears and insecurities about the bariatric surgery, you may have heard about  things about how drastically your life is going to change after the surgery. Please, take your time and read this: bariatric surgery at Mexicali Bariatric Center is one of the best decisions of your life.

After bariatric surgery, you won’t be able to eat anything that tastes good.

Wrong. Patients who undergo bariatric surgery may need to avoid very sweet foods and very fatty foods because it can cause side effects like dizziness and nausea. However, many patients can and do eat their favorite foods after they recover from surgery. They just eat very small portions. This is an opportunity to experiment and find new foods and portions to enjoy.

You can never be far from a bathroom after WLS.

Wrong. However, you may find yourself having some “emergency” bathroom visits. However, if you experience symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting , they should subside over time as you get a better handle on how your altered digestive system responds to  certain food. It’s a matter of time.

You can only have a liquid diet after weight loss surgery.

Wrong. However, it is true that you will be on a liquid diet for a short period of time. Depending on the procedure you are having, before you have weight loss surgery your doctor may  put ask that you follow  a liquid diet for approximately 1- 2  weeks. This allows your liver to shrink, intestines more manageable  and makes the surgery easier to undertake. You will then be on a liquid diet for approximately 1-2 weeks post-surgery and then  slowly transition onto a regular solid food diet.

If you have weight loss surgery you cannot get pregnant.

Wrong. It is possible to have children after weight loss surgery. However, it’s recommended to wait 1-2 years before trying to get pregnant. This is because you need to wait until you have lost a large proportion of what you wanted to lose and your weight loss has stabilized. Losing weight may actually make women more fertile.

Weight Loss Surgery is Dangerous

Decades ago, weight loss surgery was considered a high-risk procedure because it involved a large, open incision, but now they’re all done laparoscopically, through  tiny incisions. The chances of wound infection and post-op hernia will be extremely low.

If you have any other question please call us, our team will be very happy to help you 1-888-344-3916

DS, 2nd stage of the VSG

At MBC we have had several cases of patients that were sleeved a while ago but are not satisfied with their weight loss. Some of them are eating more than they should, some are simply not getting the results that they were explicating for different reasons  particular to each person.  

Gastric sleeve surgery (also known as Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy) is, when performed by a talented board certified surgeon, a highly successful procedure. But it is not for everyone. Some patients need a malabsorptive procedure that really guarantees long term results. If you lose weight but you aren't able to keep it off, then the procedure was not effective. The best way to make the most our of your sleeve if you are in this situation is to take it to the next level, go the 2nd stage of the VSG and turn it into a Duodenal Switch.  

Human anatomy may differ from person to person. Some patients have, for example, much  longer intestines, making a VSG inefficient to maintain a steady weight loss all the way to your goal, or even  may have a much longer stomach.  

Before undergoing surgery, it is important to have  tests done by experts to determine the more convenient procedure for you. Even at the very moment of surgery, the doctor will learn  some aspects of your anatomy (i.e. the length of intestines), and therefore have better information for him to consider a malabsorptive procedure such as the DS.  

If you were sleeved and you feel that either you are still eating too much or, in some cases, eat small portions without significant weigh loss, then turning your sleeve into a DS might be the right call for you.  

Mexicali Bariatric Center is one of the leading DS centers in Latin America. Board certified surgeon Dr. Antonio Esquerra and his experienced team work only under the highest standards of care and safety. He is well known not only for his experience and  technique learned from Dr. Gilberto Ungson, but also as a caring, compassionate surgeon. Founded by Dr. Alberto Aceves, Mexicali Bariatric Center (MBC)  is a pioneer in the industry. We understand this is a personal and sometimes not easy choice, but rest assured that our team of professionals will give you the best care possible.