Guidance for your journey
At Holy Cross Health, we blend expert surgical care, proven techniques and personalized support to help you reach your weight-loss goals. Our care teams guide you throughout your surgery journey, supporting the safest and most successful outcomes.
Before surgery
- Most patients complete a 3- to 6-month supervised medical weight-loss program to improve outcomes and satisfy insurance requirements.
- Preparation includes nutritional counseling, behavioral evaluations and relevant health screenings.
- Your care team will prepare you step by step for your surgery day.
- View and download a detailed preoperative timeline
Day of surgery
- Our experienced, board-certified bariatric or endoscopic specialists will perform your procedure.
- Minimally invasive techniques mean less pain and faster recovery.
- Most patients go home the same day or the next day, depending on their procedure.
After surgery
- A guided dietary progression – from clear liquids to soft or pureed foods to regular foods – is required to accommodate surgical modifications to your gastrointestinal tract.
- Regular follow-ups with dietitians and specialists are essential for your optimal recovery.
- Outpatient nutritional counseling, follow-up with the bariatric program psychologist and support groups are available and recommended for your continued success.
- After surgery, you should be able to walk for moderate distances and carefully lift up to 10 pounds.
- Everyone’s recovery is different. Patients can return to normal activities, including work, anywhere from a few days to 6 weeks after surgery, depending on the type of procedure.
Long-term results
Bariatric surgery is a lifelong commitment. During the initial year after surgery, you will have regular follow-up visits and periodic testing to monitor vitamin and mineral levels. Continuing your care through annual visits with your surgeon is essential for long-term health.
Research shows that most weight loss occurs within the first one to two years after surgery, along with significant improvements in obesity-related conditions. Many patients even see remission of certain diseases. Patients may lose up to 60 percent of excess weight in the first six months and 77 percent within the first year, maintaining an average of 50 percent of excess weight loss at five years.
For endoscopic procedures, patients can expect to lose 15-20 percent of total body weight over 6 to 18 months, depending on individual factors and adherence to a post-procedure diet and exercise program.