DFW Bariatrics and General Surgery, Dr. Sachin Kukreja’s practice, posted this video on its YouTube channel on April 25, 2025.
From the video’s description on YouTube
Today, I want to give you an overview of the full bariatric surgery timeline.
6-12 months before surgery: Preparing for bariatric surgery can look differently based on your surgeon and your insurance requirements. I did a deep dive on surgery prep in another recent video, so I recommend watching that one first!
1 week before surgery: Many practices will have you go on a liver-shrinking diet. Your doctor may also ask you to start or stop certain medications to ensure the procedure goes smoothly.
The day of surgery: The procedure itself can take anywhere up to 1-3 hours, depending on the type of bariatric surgery you are getting (I’ve got videos on each type, too! ). In some cases, you might stay in the hospital overnight, and in others, you can go home the same day.
1 week after surgery: You might feel some nausea or experience soreness near your incisions. This is minimally invasive surgery so we do our best to minimize discomfort, but it is still surgery. We also want you up and moving ASAP to decrease the risk of blood clots and lung issues.
4 weeks after surgery: You will need to start with a liquid-only diet and eventually progress to soft foods. For recipe inspo, check out my other videos! Your exact diet will depend on your surgeon’s recommendations.
Life after surgery: While surgery is a helpful tool to increase weight loss, the real work is done by you. Bariatric surgery is a lifelong commitment to a healthy lifestyle.
Have a question I haven’t answered yet?
More videos from the practice are on Dr. Sachin Kukreja’s profile.
