Eating and Drinking After a Surgical Weight Loss Procedure

Instructions for the First 48 Hours

If you have had a surgical weight loss procedure, you need to follow specific instructions for how to eat and drink. These steps help you recover and feel more comfortable.

Before You Leave the Hospital

Before you leave the hospital, sip some water. If you did not bring water with you, you can use the water fountain in the waiting room.

If you have problems swallowing the water or feel any discomfort when swallowing, please let a nurse know.

During the Next 48 Hours

• For the first 24 hours — Keep drinking full liquids. Examples of full liquids include protein shakes, tomato soup, low-fat yogurt and low-fat yogurt smoothies and fat-free, sugar-free pudding. See Stage 2/week 2 in The Gastric Banding Nutrition Handbook.
• For the 24 hours after that — Keep drinking full liquids and add soft, solid foods. Examples are cottage cheese, scrambled eggs and tofu. See Stage 2/week 3 in The Gastric Banding Nutrition Handbook.

After 48 Hours

At this point, you can eat and drink as you usually do.

Don’t Hesitate To Call

If you have any questions or concerns, call the Lahey Center for Surgical Weight Loss at 781-744-3044. It’s also important to keep your follow-up visits as scheduled with your dietitian and/or nurse practitioner or physician assistant.

*The content on this website is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please consult a physician regarding your specific medical condition, diagnosis and/or treatment.