Bariatric surgery is a big step to take. After getting bariatric surgery in mexico, you’ll be put on a highly restrictive diet which gradually adds more and more food over time. Patients have to give up eating large amounts of food, particularly fatty foods, and are encouraged to eat a diet made up of healthy whole foods.

Alcohol is a big part of social culture in many countries around the world, and it’s a difficult thing to give up even for those who are motivated to do so. So can bariatric patients drink alcohol after surgery? Let’s find out.

Can You Drink Alcohol After Bariatric Surgery?

Alcohol cannot be safely consumed in the first few weeks after surgery. In most cases, alcohol will be rejected outright or could cause a much more severe level of intoxication than expected.

However, as time goes on and your body recovers from surgery, alcohol can be safely consumed so long as you do so responsibly. But, alcohol after bariatric surgery presents some dangers that aren’t seen in those who haven’t undergone the surgery.

Dangers of Alcohol After Bariatric Surgery

The first issue is that bariatric patients have a drastically altered metabolism. Post-op bariatric patients will show higher blood alcohol levels and prolonged alcohol presence in blood compared to the same amount of alcohol consumed before surgery. This is because of several factors, but lower food consumption and changes in metabolic activity seem to be the main culprits.

The second issue is that alcohol consumption increases the risk of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. Bariatric patients are already eating much less food and thus have reduced blood sugar levels. Alcohol consumption can cause further blood sugar problems.

One thing that bariatric patients have to look out for is the risk of developing addiction. Many bariatric patients are former food addicts, and their food addiction caused them to become obese. After bariatric surgery, consuming large volumes of food is much harder. This can leave room for another addiction to develop, and since alcohol is highly addictive, consuming alcohol on a regular basis can lead to alcoholism after bariatric surgery.

As a result, it’s recommended to keep alcohol consumption to an absolute minimum after bariatric surgery. Even a small glass of wine with dinner can produce intoxication. It’s up to the patient to weigh the risks of alcohol consumption for themselves.

ALO Bariatrics provides mexico bariatric surgery at a fraction of the cost in the US. Learn about some simple hydration tips after bariatric surgery!