Congratulations! You’ve scheduled your lap band surgery and are looking forward to a new you. But now comes the hard part…what to eat! After your lap band surgery, you will have very specific dietary restrictions about what you can and cannot eat for a certain period of time. This blog post is going to tell you everything that you need to know about what you can eat after lap band surgery.
Directly After Surgery
First and foremost, you aren’t allowed to eat anything for several hours after surgery. This is to give your anesthesiologist time to evaluate your vitals. You will then be given a clear liquid diet at this point to prevent any strain on your stomach.
The First 1-2 Weeks After Lap Band Surgery
Steadily over the first two weeks, you will start to consume other liquids besides clear ones. You will also start to step up to thicker liquids, such as protein shakes, at this time, but you’ll need to keep these very thin.
Weeks 3-4 After Lap Band Surgery
This is the week where things start getting serious! Now that your body has had time to adjust to its new size, this is the first real step towards eating normally again. At this point, most doctors recommend starting out by having three small meals per day consisting of purees. Then, you will step up to thicker foods, and eventually those soft enough to mash with a fork.
Weeks Five and Six After Lap Band Surgery
Congratulations! You have made it through the hardest part of your recovery! Now it’s time to focus on what you can eat, rather than how much. But don’t get carried away just yet…you still need to be cautious about the things that you put in your body for a little while longer. Focus on small meals of solid foods that are still quite soft. Don’t jump into eating steak just yet!
Changes to Your Diet Going Forward
After the initial six weeks following surgery, you will slowly begin to add other foods back into your diet. But don’t worry, your lap band surgeon will help guide you through this process and tell you what is safe for your specific situation. Just remember that you need to be patient and take things one step at a time!
Now that you know what to expect when it comes to foods to eat after lap band surgery, there’s no reason to feel overwhelmed. Just follow the guidelines provided here and consult with your doctor as needed. You’re on your way to a new and improved you after lap band surgery in Tijuana!
Can you safely combine bariatric surgeries? Read: Can You Have Lap Band Surgery After Gastric Bypass?
