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Ask the PA – What You REALLY Want to Know About Bariatric Surgery
What do you really want to know about bariatric surgery? Bella Baum, Surgical Physician Assistant, discusses bariatric surgery.
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Learn more about Bella Baum, PA-C
Bella Baum, PA-C
Bella Baum, PA-C is a Certified Surgical Physician Assistant.Learn more about Bella Baum, PA-C
Transcription:
Bill Klaproth (Host): You have questions, Garden State Bariatrics and Wellness Center has answers. So, let’s ask the PA with what you really want to know about bariatric surgery with Bella Baum, Surgical Physician Assistant at Garden State Bariatrics and Wellness Center.
And here we go with Ask the PA. Bell, our first question, how long will I be in the hospital?
Bella Baum, PA-C (Guest): Patients should expect to stay in the hospital overnight. So, one night stay, and be discharged the following day. Occasionally, patients will stay an extra night. That’s usually due to some nausea and intolerance of enough clear liquids to be discharged home safely. I always tell my patients their ticket home is to drink at least four ounces and hour and be able to get out of bed and walk around.
Host: Got you. All right. So, next question in our Ask the PA Podcast; can someone stay at the hospital overnight with me?
Bella: Yes, so we operate at a few different hospitals and they differ in terms of their policy. At St. Barnabas and Overlook Medical Center; all rooms are private so a family member can stay overnight. And Monmouth Medical Center, most of the rooms are private so generally speaking, a patient can have a family member sleep overnight. In either case, you should check in with the charge nurse and make sure that it’s okay. Unfortunately, at Deborah the rooms are not private, so a family member would not be permitted to stay overnight in that case.
Host: All right. Next question then that you get a lot of. How long will I be out of work?
Bella: So, minimum one week, but we allow up to three weeks of disability. A common misconception is that the disability is because you are going to be in a lot of pain postoperatively or you won’t be able to have the mobility to walk around to do your job. But actually, it’s more to allow you the time to comfortably and flexibly adapt to your diet. So, if you have a desk job, it’s easier to transition and kind of keep up with your fluid intake and your protein intake while sitting at a desk. But a person who is a police officer or a nurse in the ER for example, and is constantly on the move and running around, may fall behind on their liquid intake and protein intake the first weeks if they go to work.
Host: Next question in our Ask the PA Podcast. How will I know when I’m full after surgery?
Bella: You will definitely get that full feeling and a lot of patients have a concern about this because they don’t have – they don’t get this full feeling now like they eat, they eat, they don’t feel full, they are still hungry. But after surgery, there’s a definite feeling of fullness without being uncomfortable but being satisfied on a small portion.
Host: Got you. All right next question then. Will I ever be able to eat pizza and or steak?
Bella: So, after a few months adjustment period with – you will be able to eat most foods, just in smaller quantities. But just because you are able to eat it, doesn’t mean you should eat it. We still advise healthy eating, primarily meals containing high levels of lean protein, healthy fats and vegetables and to minimize the amount of carbohydrates in your diet.
Host: Okay. Next question how fast will I lose the weight?
Bella: Patients generally lose about 10% of their starting weight in the first month of surgery. So, for example if you weigh 300 pounds preoperatively, after the first month, you would lose about 30 pounds. After that, you would lose between 10 and 15 pounds a month and that would generally go on for the first six months after which time the weightloss gradually decreases until you reach the one year mark at which time the weight stabilizes.
Host: Here’s one that I’m sure brings a lot of questions. Can I have alcohol and when?
Bella: So, absolutely no alcohol for the first month after surgery. And the reason is that alcohol will dehydrate you and our goal the first month is primarily to keep you hydrated. After that one month period; we allow alcohol but with caution. Since your stomach is smaller, it has less of an enzyme needed to break down the alcohol. So, it’s going to hang around in your stomach longer. And also, it’s going to transit to your intestines for absorption faster. So, basically, you will get drunk faster and stay drunk for a longer period of time. Also alcohol is highly caloric so, for that reason as well, we ask patients to limit their alcohol intake after surgery.
Host: All right next question in our Ask the PA Podcast. Will I have scars on my stomach?
Bella: Yes, you will have scars on the stomach. We make five small incisions during our laparoscopic surgery. They will be somewhat visible, and it varies between patient and patient in terms of how much scar they will form.
Host: Here’s another one. Will I have extra skin?
Bella: So, there are many variables in terms of extra skin. If you lose weight with any method, with dieting, exercise or weightloss surgery; the more weight you lose, the more at risk that you develop excess skin after surgery. It also depends on the elasticity of your skin. So, younger patients tend to have less of a problem with excess skin while older patients have more of a problem and also, there’s some genetics involved as well.
Host: Next question in our Ask the PA Podcast. Will I lose my hair?
Bella: You will not lose your hair. Patients do see that their hair thins a bit, particularly around the five to seven month mark. But the hair will grow back, and you can take biotin a supplement. It will not make your hair grow but it will make your hair a little bit thicker. And also, as long as you keep up with your protein intake which are the building blocks of hair; your hair will regrow and after one year post surgery; your hair will look just like it did preoperatively.
Host: Next question then is how long do I have to wait to have sex?
Bella: That’s also a common question. Or some people are embarrassed to ask that question. I say one week. After one week, you will see us in the office for your first postop visit. If everything is well and you feel well, and we don’t see any other postoperative complications; we give clearance for sex.
Host: Okay, next question. How long before I can swim or go on vacation?
Bella: Swimming is the same thing. One week postoperatively. If your incisions look closed and there’s no signs of infection; you are cleared to go swimming after a week.
Host: Okay Bella, we’ve come to our last question of our Ask the PA Podcast. So, how long after surgery can I have a baby?
Bella: We recommend patients wait at least two years after surgery to try to get pregnant. And the reason being, it’s not healthy for the patient and it’s not healthy for the baby and also it will halt your weightloss if you get pregnant prior to that time period. And your baby is at risk for being born at a small gestational age and the other thing to consider is vitamin deficiencies which will need to be monitored whenever you get pregnant after bariatric surgery but if it’s before a two year period of time, it can be dangerous. You and the baby can have vitamin deficiencies.
Host: Well Bella, thank you so much for your time. I have loved this podcast Ask the PA with Bella Baum. Bella, thank you for your time.
Bella: Thank you for having me.
Host: And for more information please visit the Garden State Bariatrics and Wellness Center website at www.gsbwc.com, that’s www.gsbwc.com. And if you found this podcast helpful, please share it on your social channels and check out the full podcast library for topics of interest to you. This is Winning through Losing a weightloss surgery podcast with Garden State Bariatrics. I’m Bill Klaproth. Thanks for listening.
Bill Klaproth (Host): You have questions, Garden State Bariatrics and Wellness Center has answers. So, let’s ask the PA with what you really want to know about bariatric surgery with Bella Baum, Surgical Physician Assistant at Garden State Bariatrics and Wellness Center.
And here we go with Ask the PA. Bell, our first question, how long will I be in the hospital?
Bella Baum, PA-C (Guest): Patients should expect to stay in the hospital overnight. So, one night stay, and be discharged the following day. Occasionally, patients will stay an extra night. That’s usually due to some nausea and intolerance of enough clear liquids to be discharged home safely. I always tell my patients their ticket home is to drink at least four ounces and hour and be able to get out of bed and walk around.
Host: Got you. All right. So, next question in our Ask the PA Podcast; can someone stay at the hospital overnight with me?
Bella: Yes, so we operate at a few different hospitals and they differ in terms of their policy. At St. Barnabas and Overlook Medical Center; all rooms are private so a family member can stay overnight. And Monmouth Medical Center, most of the rooms are private so generally speaking, a patient can have a family member sleep overnight. In either case, you should check in with the charge nurse and make sure that it’s okay. Unfortunately, at Deborah the rooms are not private, so a family member would not be permitted to stay overnight in that case.
Host: All right. Next question then that you get a lot of. How long will I be out of work?
Bella: So, minimum one week, but we allow up to three weeks of disability. A common misconception is that the disability is because you are going to be in a lot of pain postoperatively or you won’t be able to have the mobility to walk around to do your job. But actually, it’s more to allow you the time to comfortably and flexibly adapt to your diet. So, if you have a desk job, it’s easier to transition and kind of keep up with your fluid intake and your protein intake while sitting at a desk. But a person who is a police officer or a nurse in the ER for example, and is constantly on the move and running around, may fall behind on their liquid intake and protein intake the first weeks if they go to work.
Host: Next question in our Ask the PA Podcast. How will I know when I’m full after surgery?
Bella: You will definitely get that full feeling and a lot of patients have a concern about this because they don’t have – they don’t get this full feeling now like they eat, they eat, they don’t feel full, they are still hungry. But after surgery, there’s a definite feeling of fullness without being uncomfortable but being satisfied on a small portion.
Host: Got you. All right next question then. Will I ever be able to eat pizza and or steak?
Bella: So, after a few months adjustment period with – you will be able to eat most foods, just in smaller quantities. But just because you are able to eat it, doesn’t mean you should eat it. We still advise healthy eating, primarily meals containing high levels of lean protein, healthy fats and vegetables and to minimize the amount of carbohydrates in your diet.
Host: Okay. Next question how fast will I lose the weight?
Bella: Patients generally lose about 10% of their starting weight in the first month of surgery. So, for example if you weigh 300 pounds preoperatively, after the first month, you would lose about 30 pounds. After that, you would lose between 10 and 15 pounds a month and that would generally go on for the first six months after which time the weightloss gradually decreases until you reach the one year mark at which time the weight stabilizes.
Host: Here’s one that I’m sure brings a lot of questions. Can I have alcohol and when?
Bella: So, absolutely no alcohol for the first month after surgery. And the reason is that alcohol will dehydrate you and our goal the first month is primarily to keep you hydrated. After that one month period; we allow alcohol but with caution. Since your stomach is smaller, it has less of an enzyme needed to break down the alcohol. So, it’s going to hang around in your stomach longer. And also, it’s going to transit to your intestines for absorption faster. So, basically, you will get drunk faster and stay drunk for a longer period of time. Also alcohol is highly caloric so, for that reason as well, we ask patients to limit their alcohol intake after surgery.
Host: All right next question in our Ask the PA Podcast. Will I have scars on my stomach?
Bella: Yes, you will have scars on the stomach. We make five small incisions during our laparoscopic surgery. They will be somewhat visible, and it varies between patient and patient in terms of how much scar they will form.
Host: Here’s another one. Will I have extra skin?
Bella: So, there are many variables in terms of extra skin. If you lose weight with any method, with dieting, exercise or weightloss surgery; the more weight you lose, the more at risk that you develop excess skin after surgery. It also depends on the elasticity of your skin. So, younger patients tend to have less of a problem with excess skin while older patients have more of a problem and also, there’s some genetics involved as well.
Host: Next question in our Ask the PA Podcast. Will I lose my hair?
Bella: You will not lose your hair. Patients do see that their hair thins a bit, particularly around the five to seven month mark. But the hair will grow back, and you can take biotin a supplement. It will not make your hair grow but it will make your hair a little bit thicker. And also, as long as you keep up with your protein intake which are the building blocks of hair; your hair will regrow and after one year post surgery; your hair will look just like it did preoperatively.
Host: Next question then is how long do I have to wait to have sex?
Bella: That’s also a common question. Or some people are embarrassed to ask that question. I say one week. After one week, you will see us in the office for your first postop visit. If everything is well and you feel well, and we don’t see any other postoperative complications; we give clearance for sex.
Host: Okay, next question. How long before I can swim or go on vacation?
Bella: Swimming is the same thing. One week postoperatively. If your incisions look closed and there’s no signs of infection; you are cleared to go swimming after a week.
Host: Okay Bella, we’ve come to our last question of our Ask the PA Podcast. So, how long after surgery can I have a baby?
Bella: We recommend patients wait at least two years after surgery to try to get pregnant. And the reason being, it’s not healthy for the patient and it’s not healthy for the baby and also it will halt your weightloss if you get pregnant prior to that time period. And your baby is at risk for being born at a small gestational age and the other thing to consider is vitamin deficiencies which will need to be monitored whenever you get pregnant after bariatric surgery but if it’s before a two year period of time, it can be dangerous. You and the baby can have vitamin deficiencies.
Host: Well Bella, thank you so much for your time. I have loved this podcast Ask the PA with Bella Baum. Bella, thank you for your time.
Bella: Thank you for having me.
Host: And for more information please visit the Garden State Bariatrics and Wellness Center website at www.gsbwc.com, that’s www.gsbwc.com. And if you found this podcast helpful, please share it on your social channels and check out the full podcast library for topics of interest to you. This is Winning through Losing a weightloss surgery podcast with Garden State Bariatrics. I’m Bill Klaproth. Thanks for listening.