Psychological Effects
We understand the physical changes you’ll experience with weight loss surgery, and also the psychological effects of this life-changing procedure.
We're here to help you cope with any issues you may have in a positive and healthy way. While weight loss surgery has a direct effect on the body, the psychological effects of the surgery sometimes outnumber the physical ones. The experience can alter your relationships with other people, your feelings about yourself and your whole way of living.
Because the effects of weight loss surgery are so profound, you might find life afterward to be unsettling at times. You might feel "off" or be overwhelmed by all of the changes you have to make for the rest of your life. These are perfectly natural reactions.
Consider joining one of our weight loss surgery support groups where you will find camaraderie and encouragement from people who can relate to you.
Your group will celebrate achievements and reminders that your new lifestyle, your improved health and taking control of your life is positive change. You’ll find motivation to stay on track and guidance in finding ways to cope in a healthy way. Your group will help you deal with changes in eating, especially in social situations or when interacting with family and friends.
One major change is the inability to eat as much as you used to eat. And, while this is a positive physical effect of the surgery, it may affect you mentally as well.
After surgery, you may realize how much you relied on food for comfort in the past. You might have used food to handle emotions, to cope with stress, to deal with a traumatic experience or for comfort. It is important to develop healthy new behaviors that will aid in your success. Patients who are not able to find new positive coping mechanisms can often find themselves developing other habits such as smoking, eating disorders, drinking problems, gambling problems, sexual promiscuity and drug addictions.
After surgery, you may be interested in cosmetic procedures to complement your weight loss, including:
- Surgical body contouring
- Cosmetic surgery
Unlike other surgeries, the results of weight loss surgery are obvious and public. People will notice and they might ask you about your appearance. The positive psychological effects of surgery are numerous.
You’ll feel good about the way you look, your life and the people around you. Many patients are finally able to deal with old feelings of helplessness because there is something they can now do to combat obesity.
Healing your mind and body from the effects of obesity requires a mental and physical reset. Empowerment can jump-start your road to a new life.
In addition to the positive psychological effects, there are physical changes you’ll have to make after the surgery that may have some negative effects.
You may find some of your relationships with friends and family change after surgery. One common problem is that many of us rely on eating and drinking as a way of socializing. This becomes more difficult after weight loss surgery. You may need to find new ways to socialize with family and friends that aren't focused around food.
Woman’s can provide you with tips, suggestions and coping tools to help you through these challenges.
Eating
Weight loss surgery radically changes how much you eat. Very small meals will make you full quickly. It is important to follow your surgeon's and Woman's guidelines for nutritious and balanced meals to achieve optimal success.
Regardless of your procedure type, dietary supplements are recommended.
Weight Loss
You will lose weight after surgery, but be sure to know what to expect.
Many people find that their weight loss ebbs and flows over months, dropping, leveling off and then dropping again. Depending on the procedure, you might keep losing weight two or three years after surgery.
Physical Activity
After surgery, regular physical activity might be the most important way of maintaining your weight loss in the long term. Talk to your doctor about easy ways to begin exercising. You may also benefit from working with a physical therapist or personal trainer.