Nutrition & Supplementation after Surgery

At Real Results Weight Loss Solutions we offer the gastric banding (Lap-Band® and Realize® Band) procedure because of its unique ability to allow long-term sustained weight loss while also offering measured and consistent weight loss over that period of time. The average gastric banding patient will lose approximately 1 to 2 pounds per week and within about two years will have lost over 50% of their excess body weight. The less invasive nature of this procedure and relatively less restriction that it provides, means that gastric banding patients generally do not have to take as many vitamins and supplements after surgery as do their counterparts who have undergone other bariatric surgery procedures such as gastric bypass.

While the nutritional restrictions are minimized through gastric banding, most patients will have to take some sort of supplementation immediately after surgery as they adapt to the restriction that the band provides. Some may need to supplement their diet over the long-term as well.

• Most commonly, patients will have to take protein supplementation because protein is an integral part of the healing process immediately after surgery. It is also one of the most effective weight loss aids. Protein allows the patient to feel fuller sooner and for longer meaning that they will eat less and consequently lose weight. Further, protein is hard for the body to digest so it consumes more calories doing so. It is hard however to consume the amount of protein that we need each day through our food alone, so many patients will opt for protein shakes which can give them the necessary protein while also enjoying a good tasting drink.
• Some patients will also have to take vitamins C, and E, B12 and/or D and sometimes iron supplementation after surgery. This may be due to a deficiency of one or all of these nutrients due to the reduced food consumption after surgery.

Taking these supplements helps ensure that the patient’s weight loss is indeed healthy. In the end, patients’ should follow the prescribed diet as offered by our practice. It is the most effective way to combine excellent weight loss with healthy eating. The plans that we create for our patients are specifically tailored to maximize the results while minimizing the risks.

If there is ever a time where a patient is unsure of what they should or should not, it  is important that they call their call our office and dietitian in order to make sure that they are consuming the proper amount of the right nutrients. Further, supplementation should never be started or stopped without speaking to your surgeon or dietitian.