For people considering weight-loss surgery, one of the most common questions is often, “how quickly will I lose weight after bariatric surgery?” It’s a sensible question, especially considering that by the time someone considers a procedure like this, they’ve very often struggled to lose weight through conventional means. Below, we’re sharing the typical weight loss timeline after bariatric surgery.
Initial Weight Loss After Bariatric Surgery
Most people lose weight rapidly in the first 6 months to 1 year after surgery. There are several reasons:
- Your metabolism changes due to hormonal changes from the surgery that reduce fat storage.
- Your stomach holds a small amount of food.
- You’ll feel less hungry due to hormonal changes (e.g., reduced ghrelin levels).
Let us take a closer look at how the weight is generally lost throughout the first year following surgery and beyond.
Typical Weight Loss Timeline
- First month: Expect to lose 8-15 pounds or more, depending on your starting weight and adherence to post-surgery guidelines.
- 3-6 months: Rapid weight loss continues, often with a loss of 30-50% of excess weight.
- 12 months: Most patients lose about 50-70% of their excess weight within the first year.
- Beyond 1 year: Weight loss slows down and stabilizes. Patients often maintain a 50-70% reduction in excess weight long-term if they follow a healthy lifestyle.
While this is fairly typical for a bariatric patient who is following post-surgery guidelines, there are factors that influence how quickly excess weight is shed.
- Starting weight: Heavier patients may see faster initial weight loss simply because there is more weight to lose.
- Procedure type: Sleeve gastrectomy patients typically lose 50-65% of excess weight, while gastric bypass may result in slightly more weight loss.
- Commitment to lifestyle changes: Following your diet, exercise, and medical advice will maximize your weight loss and help maintain it.
- Metabolic health: Conditions like diabetes or thyroid issues can influence weight loss.
- Muscle mass, gender and age: More muscle mass, often true more so for men and younger people, means higher metabolism and usually somewhat faster weight loss
What to Expect After Surgery
Generally, patients can expect rapid initial weight loss in the first six months—this is normal and expected. After about a year, your body adjusts to the changes, and weight loss plateaus. At this stage, lifestyle changes like a healthy diet and exercise become critical to maintaining your results. Remember, bariatric surgery isn’t a quick fix, but rather a tool intended to keep you reach a healthier weight.
Ready to learn more about whether you might be a candidate for bariatric surgery? The team at Nevada Surgical is happy to answer your questions. Contact us today to learn more.
