Weight gain after surgery- causes & treatments (2024)

Surgery is considered the most nerve-wracking and overwhelming experience.

Handling the pain and discomfort, taking new medications, and even witnessing the changes in your body, such as weight gain, can make the recovery process challenging.

Here in this post today, we will look at the insights of weight gain after surgery, its possible causes, and its remedies.

You may wonder about the reason for noticing those extra pounds on the scale and whether it is something you should worry about while your priority is mainly on rest and recovery.

 

Contents

How common is weight gain after surgery? 

How common is weight gain after surgery

Surgery is considered an invasive procedure that takes a massive toll on your body as it works overtime in promoting healing.

It relies on the type of surgery you have, although your recovery can be a short or a lengthy procedure.

In a few cases, you might be experiencing some weight gain after surgery due to fluid retention, being immobile for a longer time, or your medication’s side effects.

But, this depends on the kind of surgery you had, the expected time of recovery, and your medical history.

Weight gain during the initial recovery period is usually not the outcome of gaining fat mass but the accumulation of fluid as a part of the healing process.

Post-surgical weight gain is considered temporary in several cases since it can subside your body’s recovery.

But, the prolonged time to recover associated with physical inactivity, stress, and eating disorders can lead to subsequent weight gain.

Therefore, it is vital to try to resume your usual healthy lifestyle sooner as it is a safe method.

 

Causes for weight gain after surgery 

If your weight increases after the surgery, you should not panic. You need to figure out the exact reason and work on it.

Water Retention 

Water retention is also known as postoperative edema medically, and it is the main cause of weight gain after surgery.

Edema is the accumulation of fluid between the tissues caused by the redistribution of plasma proteins.

The injury from post-surgery tissues results in a greater shift of fluids between the compartments of the body, leading to the accumulation of fluid within the interstitial space, the space lying between the organs of your body.

The retention of fluid is localized in their extremities, or it can be generalized to offer you an entirely obese appearance.

 

Stress 

Hormonal imbalances are triggered through both physical and psychological stress leading to a gain in weight.

Stress over a prolonged period burdens the adrenal glands, causing them to secrete more cortisol levels.

A study conducted on people who underwent this cardiac surgery found mainly that surgery-related stress increases the antidiuretic hormone and cortisol hormone secretion.

The increased levels of ADH might disturb your kidney’s functional ability, causing water retention.

 

Trauma 

Surgical trauma frequently results in metabolism, immunity, and endocrine function alterations.

Trauma is a physical reaction to upsetting or stressful circumstances.

Post-surgery trauma frequently disrupts the body’s balance and causes hormonal imbalances.

It causes the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis to fail, putting the body under more stress.

According to a long-term observational study, women suffering from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) acquire more weight and are more likely to become overweight or obese.

 

Medication 

Doctors will often prescribe medication for post-surgery recoveries.

Most of the drugs are supplements to help regain strength and promote faster healing.

They may even prescribe a few of the specific medicines affecting your metabolic system leading to a gain in weight.

 

Rest 

Rest is essential for post-surgery recovery. Weight gain can happen with low activity and complete rest, slowing down the body’s metabolic rate

or BMR.

Following surgery, a lack of physical activity might affect BMR and calorie metabolism, resulting in weight gain.

Doctors will always recommend you start modest physical exercises following the recovery time to aid in your body’s metabolic system to get back on track.

 

Comfort Food 

Who does not love comfort food? Your loved ones may wish to pamper you with all the food you love after your surgery.

But, these comfort foods may lead to weight gain.

Post-surgery blues will often increase the overindulgence in comfort food, specifically higher sugar and fat-filled foods.

Combined with your already slower metabolism, it can make you appear bloated.

Let us now check out a few preventive measures that you can take to minimize it, as now you have zeroed in on the cause of your post-surgery weight gain.

 

ReadFacial Feminization Surgery Cost

 

What Precautions should you Take? 

Weight gain after surgery

Gaining weight after surgery is quite common, mainly during the recovery stage.

Anything beyond that can lead to long-term issues while gaining about 5 to 6 pounds is normal.

The following are the main precautions that can prevent this from taking place:

  • Start by moving a bit. You need not rush to the gym instantly after your surgery. Continue to be active by moving around to help in revamping your metabolic system.
  • Practice a few stretching exercises for a better circulation of blood. Rotate your ankles and feet in the clockwise and anticlockwise directions preventing edema in the lower part of your body.
  • Pamper yourself with your favorite food about once every week, but never should you overindulge in it.
  • Always include the herbs like parsley, hibiscus, and horsetail in your food. There are natural diuretics that can aid in reducing the retention of water.

Additionally, with these precautions, you can also indulge in a few specific dietary changes to help you prevent weight gain due to surgery.

 

ReadTummy Tuck Cost

 

What should be your dietary changes for losing weight after surgery 

Depend On Lean Protein 

Protein is crucial to the recovery process, and it aids in the repair and healing of tissue damage, boosts immunity, and maintains a healthy metabolic rate.

Always make sure to include high-quality protein in your meals.

Consume lean protein with a low-fat content to avoid gaining weight.

Add proteins to your salads by using healthy cooking methods such as steaming.

 

Consume More Vegetables And Fruits 

Vegetables and fruits are high in water and fiber, which might help you avoid gaining too much weight.

After a C-section, many women complain about gaining belly fat, as demonstrated in a mouse study.

Consequently, having more fiber-rich can aid in this aspect.

However, before making any dietary adjustments, we recommend consulting with your doctor or a nutritionist.

Make sure they’re aware of any medications you’re taking.

 

Always Stay Hydrated 

A study conducted on obese individuals found that drinking plenty of water will improve your digestion and metabolic rate.

Sufficient water intake prevents the excessive retention of fluid by sending a signal to the kidneys to stop water conservation.

Always consult your doctor before increasing your water intake if you have any serious issues with your kidney.

 

ReadHair Loss After Surgery

 

More on Weight gain 

It is not a small feat when it comes to undergoing surgery, and it takes a lot of strength and courage to heal both mentally and physically.

It is quite important to remember that your body has gone through an extreme amount of stress and requires time to heal, although you may notice changes in the size of your body.

Focus on the body’s incredible ability to heal itself instead of focusing on the number on the scale.

 

ReadForehead Reduction Surgery

 

FAQs 

Weight gain after surgery

Below we share some FAQs related to “Weight Gain After Surgery”

1. Is it common for people to gain weight after surgery?

After surgery, the commonest cause of weight gain is postoperative edema or fluid retention.

Edema happens when your body produces extra fluid in response to inflammation and aid recovery, and Intravenous (IV) fluids supplied during surgery may also induce it.

 

2. How often does post-surgery weight gain last?

Even a woman who leads a healthy lifestyle can suffer swelling over the first few weeks after surgery as part of treatment, and it will gradually subside within the first six weeks of the healing process.

 

3. How could you eliminate post-surgery water weight?

Remember that green vegetables and whole grains are healthy meals to eat after surgery to help minimize edema.

Keep a closer check on your sodium consumption.

Because sodium is a naturally occurring chemical and reduces the amount of water in your body, temporarily reducing your salt intake from foods may be a smart idea.

 

4. Can you lose weight when you’re healing from surgery?

Many patients discover that they drop a few pounds after surgery.

You may lose weight due to chemotherapy side effects such as vomiting or diarrhea.

Weight loss can make you tired, and it takes longer to recover from therapy.

 

5. Does surgery cause your entire body to swell?

Swelling is a common side effect of surgery. Hundreds of cells get sent to the injured body part as the body begins to mend itself.

It is part of the inflammatory phase, the first stage of healing.

The invasion of all of these cells leads the region to grow even more.

 

6. Why do I gain weight so quickly even though I eat so little?

Unexplained weight gain happens when you gain weight without boosting your calorie intake or decreasing physical activity.

When you’re not striving to gain weight, this happens.

 

7. What is the time taken for the effects of general anesthesia to wear off?

Anesthesia mainly lasts in our system for about 24 hours.

If you’ve had sedation, regional anesthesia, or general anesthesia, you will not return to work or drive until the medicines pass through your system.

If your healthcare provider thinks it’s acceptable, you should be ready to commence normal activities after local anesthesia.

 

8. When it comes to weight loss following surgery, how long does it take?

Most patients lose weight very quickly in the first three months after surgery, and then the weight reduction gradually tapers down after that.

 

9. Why is my stomach so bloated after my laparoscopy?

After surgery, some belly distension (swelling) is to be expected. It is caused by intestinal distension and will go away with time. Gas trapped beyond the intestines but inside the abdominal cavity causes intraperitoneal gas symptoms.

 

10. What’s the deal with being so weary a month after surgery?

If fatigue lasts longer after surgery, it becomes a problem, and it may happen due to anemia, pain medications, infection, and depression.

 

ReadHow Much Does Rhinoplasty Cost?

 

The bottom line 

  • Surgeries can be a life-changing and stressful experience. You might get worried about the changes to your body, including weight gain after surgery and focusing on a healthy recovery.
  • The sudden gain in weight appears temporary, and due to the accumulation of excessive fluid, it becomes common after a massive surgery. In a few cases, a lengthy recovery will be required to become less active, leading to a gain in weight.
  • It may take some time before your body can return to its usual activities. At the same time, it is important to work towards a physically active lifestyle and a healthful diet. Keep in mind that your body is in its recovery mode, as it is important to be patient during the process.
  • You should work closely with your physician to make sure that you have a healthy and safe recovery which is more important than the number on this scale.

 

ReadDouble Chin Surgery Cost

Blake