Recovery after Gastric Band (Lap Band) Surgery

Many lap band surgery patients are concerned about their recovery, what it will involve and how long they can expect to be in recovery.  Recovery will vary widely for each individual and it will depend on many factors such how good your overall health was pre-surgery, the amount of weight you need to lose, your age and many other factors. 

Immediately after Lap Band Surgery

Immediately after surgery many patients are anxious to know how they will feel, if they will be in pain and how many days they may need in hospital.  The first experience for most patients is feeling the effects of the general anaesthetic.  Most patients feel sick and generally groggy from the anaesthetic, these feelings slowly pass.  Most patients spend as little as 24 hours in hospital, particularly if the surgery was performed laparoscopically.  Some patients are back at work in a week after being discharged from hospital, others take longer to give themselves more recovery time, such as 3 weeks.  Most patients are active and exercising within 6 weeks.  This recovery time will vary and if the lap band was performed by open surgery then there will most likely be longer recovery times.  Any complications, post surgery will further lengthen the recovery time. 


Immediately after surgery, when you feel ready you may be advised to get out of bed and walk around for a little while.  This is a good idea to help with circulation and you should try and do this daily for around half an hour.  A quick walk along the corridor or just sitting up will aid recovery.  Do make sure you are taking in some fluids, you should be able to drink clear liquids the day after surgery and in some cases on the day of surgery.  

Going Back to Work

Many patients are keen to get back to work as soon as possible after surgery.   It is difficult to know how much time you will need to take off work before the surgery.  Time off work, varies for each patient some choose to take a bit of time off work for their own comfort.  Some patients are back at work within one week, many are back at work after three weeks. 

Seeking help from Support Groups

Life after lap band surgery will look different than it did pre-surgery, the changes can be hard to cope with.  Emotions are often part of recovery and to the changes that the patient faces with new lifestyle challenges.  It is not uncommon for patients to feel sad, angry, frustrated, depressed, or all these feelings at once.  It is important to build in some type of support network for yourself where you discuss feelings.  Many patients belong to support groups or have supportive friends and families who can help them when they feel a bit low.  If you start to feel low, frustrated or angry there is always support available.  It is important to find the time to find the time to talk about your feelings and be patient with yourself.  Do share how you are feeling, keeping negative feelings to yourself could resort in you turning back to your old ways of coping, i.e. food.  Remind yourself that it is normal to feel negative emotions and it is part of your recovery. 

Support groups should not be underestimated for the positive impact they can have on patients.  They can give you an opportunity to air your feelings, share and hear about others frustrations and successes.  Not only this but you can learn a lot from others in the group, find solutions to problems, and provide motivation!  A support group is an important part of recovery, so if you have not been offered one by your doctor, do ask or seek one out yourself.  Friends and family can be supportive and very understanding, however they will never fully understand your journey so sharing with those who undergone the same procedure has many benefits.

Lap band surgery will reduce hunger, however many patients have had their whole life dominated by food and their weight.  The surgery cannot undo a lifetime of emotional eating and for many there will be a real emotional journey to go on regarding their relationship with food.  Do seek out counseling if this is not provided as part of your aftercare.  Many do not think of the emotional recovery, just the physical recovery but this is just as if not more important.  There is no need to be scared of exploring your issues around food.  For many the journey starts here in understanding themselves more.  Medical staff are trained to be supportive and understanding and will want to help you explore your relationship with food in a safe and confidential environment.  Keeping a journal could be one way of expressing how you feel if you feel uncomfortable or unable to talk about it with others.  Not only can be a useful outlet it can be interesting to look back on and you can spot any mood patterns over time.  For some patients it is a journey of discovery keeping a journal.  They sometimes find that their mood dips at times when they normally would have headed for the fridge like times when they get bored at home. Writing all you behaviours and patterns down can suddenly make it all clear and help you understand your eating habits and moods.  Why not bring your journal to your support group and share it with others?  This is a great way of communicating how you feel with others.  A journal can also be a good place to write down all those tips and suggestions you will get from fellow weight loss surgery patients. 

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