Can I regain weight?

It depends on the type of surgery.

The Lap-Band provides a constant restriction on your stomach, however, you can affect how much you lose, or gain, by your eating habits. Weight loss continues for the first 3 years, but is directly affected by how tight your band is. If you resort to eating soft sweets, such as chocolate, ice cream or drinks with high calorie liquids, you will regain the weight. If you do not have your band properly adjusted, you may regain weight.

With the gastric bypass, weight loss continues for two years and then plateaus. Some patients, depending on the size of the stomach pouch and the type of food they eat, experience a 20-to-30-pound weight regain after two years.

Biliopancreatic diversion provides continuous weight loss for two years, with a subsequent plateau. However, weight regain is possible if carbohydrates are eaten throughout the day (grazing).

The basic message is that surgery is not a complete weight-loss solution; you must also follow your nutritionist's instructions about how and what to eat.