To learn more about the supportive aftercare offered at our Long Island center to gastric banding and gastric bypass surgery patients, contact us today.
Nassau County
120 Mineola Blvd, Suite 320
Mineola, New York 11501
Phone: (866) 461-7774
Fax: (516) 663-2780
Directions
Suffolk County
157 East Woodside Ave.
Patchogue, New York 11772
Phone: (866) 461-7774
Fax: (631) 475-1955
Directions
Kew Gardens
80-02 Kew Gardens, Suite 308
Kew Gardens, NY 11417
Phone: (866) 461-7774
Fax: (631) 475-1955
Directions
Gastric banding with the LAP-BAND® System and gastric bypass surgery require a lifelong commitment to behavioral change and modified eating habits in order for you to get the most out of your weight loss efforts. At our Long Island center, support after gastric banding and gastric bypass surgery is available to help our New York patients get on the right track toward long term weight management and improved health. Ongoing care is provided by our bariatric surgeon and nurses throughout the weight-loss process.
Successful weight loss is dependent upon a commitment to modifying eating habits. Our nutritionist will work closely with you following surgery to create a personalized diet plan and teach you healthy eating habits. All gastric banding and bypass patients at our New York center are encouraged to abide by the following guidelines.
To keep yourself healthy, maintain a smooth metabolism by sticking to a regular schedule of three meals a day. It is also important to avoid overeating, as doing so will slow your weight loss and possibly make you sick by stretching your stomach.
Each meal should take 30 to 40 minutes to complete. Meat should be cut into very small pieces and all food should be chewed until it is the consistency of baby food to prevent stomach blockage.
Drinking too much liquid with a meal can cause your stomach to stretch. To prevent dehydration, drink low calorie beverages and water between meals.
Foods that are high in fat and sugar can cause uncomfortable conditions such as dumping syndrome, and high calorie foods can compromise your weight loss efforts.
Because you may not receive the amount of vitamins and minerals you need through the food you eat, we recommend that you take nutritional supplements. At our Long Island center, gastric banding and gastric bypass patients are closely monitored for nutritional deficiencies and are given receive individual advice from our nutritionist about the types of supplements to include in their diets.
It is important to include exercise in your efforts to lose weight and maintain a healthy size for life. Daily exercise will also help alleviate or avoid some of the health risks and conditions that are associated with obesity.
At Winthrop, our gastric banding and bypass patients are typically encouraged to get up and walk in the recovery room as soon as possible following surgery, and we recommend that they begin walking one to two blocks a day within a week after surgery. We also encourage our patients to consider joining a gym as part of an effort to establish and maintain a program of regular exercise. Patients with more problematic physical limitations may find that physical therapy programs can help them become more active. Regular exercise is a critical part of achieving optimal weight loss, as well as long-term weight management.
It is important to have realistic expectations about weight loss following bariatric surgery. Although it is possible for patients to lose 50 to 80 percent of their excess body weight and reach a healthy size, not all patients are able to achieve a perfect or ideal shape. The rate at which individuals lose weight differs, and the ultimate success of weight loss depends on how well you follow your diet and exercise program.
Weight loss typically begins in the first weeks following surgery, and many patients lose two to three pounds a week during the first year. Weight loss usually slows at 12 to 18 months after surgery; some patients even regain some weight at this point. Weight typically stabilizes two to three years after surgery.
Typical weight loss patterns vary depending on the type of surgery that is performed. Gastric bypass patients tend to lose weight faster than gastric banding patients, especially during the first year. Regardless of the short term weight loss results, it is important to focus on long-term weight loss management, and both gastric bypass and gastric banding have similar, successful results within five years of surgery in most cases.
To help our patients adjust to their new ways of life and understand the emotional changes that occur, Winthrop-University Hospital offers monthly Bariatric Surgery Support Groups. Both gastric bypass and gastric banding patients are welcome at these support groups at our New York center, as well as those who are considering obesity surgery. Pre- and postoperative issues, as well as behavioral adjustment techniques, are discussed in each meeting along with a focused conversation on a special topic for the month. Family and friends of patients are welcome to attend our support group meetings.
Bariatric support group meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Winthrop Community Center, located at 101 Mineola Boulevard in Mineola, New York. Registration is only required for the holiday party in December.
To learn more about our support group meetings, call Karen Norowski at (866) 461-7774.
Bariatric surgery requires a lifelong commitment to changes in eating habits and exercise. Contact our program in Long Island to learn more about gastric banding and bypass surgery and the behavioral changes that will help you maintain a healthy weight for life. Gastric banding and bypass surgery has helped many patients throughout New York improve their lives by improving their health.