During the first year:
There is a close correlation between weight loss success and patient well-being with aggressive follow-up, especially during the first year after surgery when patient monitoring is most critical.
At these visits, weight loss is monitored, and patients are evaluated for overall health, vitamin levels, medication titration, activity levels, dietary habits, bowel function and hydration status.
First year schedule:
2 weeks | 3 months | 6 months |
4 weeks | 4 months | 9 months |
2 months | 5 months | 12 months |
After the first year:
After the first postoperative year, patients are seen less frequently, generally once or twice a year. However, at these visits, patients should be assessed for nutritional deficiencies, accuracy of their diet, weight maintenance, the presence of symptoms and overall health. Any potential deviation from what is expected often considered as a problem that should be addressed and managed. Commonly these are simple reversible and manageable issues such as dietary non-compliance (patients chronically overeat and/or abuse calorie-dense foods, candies or sweets) or lack of physical activity that could be properly addressed, bringing patient back on the track. Otherwise, revision or conversion to a more radical operation is an option, but carries a higher morbidity than the original procedure.
Schedule after the first year:
18 months | 48 months |
24 months | 60 months |
36 months |
Adjustable Gastric Banding follow-up:
After adjustable gastric banding surgery you must undergo regular check-ups as an outpatient. Initially, these check-ups is carried out 6 weeks after surgery followed by a monthly visits. The band will gradually be filled through the injection port during the first 12-18 months following surgery. During this period, your weight loss and level of well-being will be monitored. Once your weight has stabilized, check-up visits will become less frequent.