Bariatric surgery is a major procedure, and recovery doesn’t happen overnight. It’s important to follow your surgeon’s postoperative recovery instructions.

You may think that recovering from bariatric surgery will be a long and painful process—but, that’s not usually the case.

The majority of patients have minimally invasive, or laparoscopic, surgery . Surgeons who use a minimally invasive approach create four to five small incisions.

If you’re concerned about pain after surgery, speak with your surgeon. Your surgeon will discuss the pain management medications that he or she will provide you with after the surgery. Some patients are provided with a system that allows them to control their pain medication with the push of a button.

Browse Real Patients’ Stories to hear about bariatric surgery patients’ experiences with recovery.

For more assistance, find a bariatric surgeon and program using the Surgeon Locator.

As with any major surgery, there will be a recovery period. Recovery periods vary from patient to patient and depend on the type of surgery you have.

Take the time to follow your surgeon’s instructions. For examples of what recovery might be like, visit Recovering from Bariatric Surgery.

And be sure to use this time to practice healthy habits, such as diet and exercise.

Your health is worth the time it takes to fully recover. Try not to rush it. After all, your body will be healing from surgery.

For more assistance, find a bariatric surgeon and program using the Surgeon Locator.