Q. How long does it take to recover from gastric bypass surgery?

Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.

Answered by Secondmedic Expert

Gastric bypass surgery is a major operation, and the recovery period will vary from patient to patient. Generally speaking, you should expect to be in the hospital for 3-5 days after your procedure and then it can take up to 6 weeks for full recovery.

In the first few weeks post-surgery, you'll likely experience some pain and discomfort as well as fatigue due to your body healing from the incisions made during surgery. During this time, it's important that you rest as much as possible so that your body is able to heal itself efficiently. You may also need physical therapy or other forms of rehabilitation if necessary.

In addition, there are lifestyle changes that must be made right away post-surgery in order for recovery to go smoothly. This includes changing eating habits by reducing your food intake size and avoiding certain unhealthy foods such as sugary sodas or fast food; increasing physical activity; abstaining from alcohol; quitting smoking; taking vitamins and minerals daily; consuming plenty of fluids throughout the day; attending support groups or counseling sessions if needed; managing stress levels effectively through activities such as yoga or meditation - all of which are steps required in order maintain healthier habits both during and after gastric bypass surgery.

Recovering successfully from gastric bypass surgery takes dedication on behalf of patients but with enough care given pre-op/post-op following doctor’s orders carefully, full recovery within six weeks is achievable!