Vitamin Patches For Bariatric Surgery: Can You Use Vitamin Patches After a Bariatric Procedure?
Weight problems are a universal concern. Between 2013 and 2016, the CDC found that 49.1% of adults in the U.S. reported that they had tried to lose weight in the last year. And with Covid-19, the issue was exacerbated. Almost half of American adults gained weight over the first year of the pandemic.
If you've dealt with weight management concerns, know that you're not alone. There are so many risk factors out of our control - from stress and anxiety to underlying conditions, lack of access to healthy food, and more - all of which have been shown to affect weight.
Being overweight is not a health issue for most people. All bodies carry weight differently, and many of us need to live at higher weights to stay healthy. Bariatric surgery and treatments like it are only used for severe cases in which weight happens to be the cause of other health concerns - otherwise, weight isn't important. What's important is living a healthy lifestyle, staying active, and eating foods that nourish you - not focusing only on what your body looks like.
That said, if bariatric surgery is something you and your doctor have discussed, it's crucial to understand what you will need after your procedure. Vitamin deficiencies are a common effect of these surgeries, but there are strategies you can use to prevent them. Learn more about how to talk to your doctor about using vitamin patches after bariatric surgery with this short guide.
What Is Bariatric Surgery?
Bariatric surgery is performed on a person to induce weight loss. It's typically only performed on high-risk candidates, like those with a BMI of above 40 or those with an underlying condition or co-morbidity like type II diabetes or a respiratory disorder.
Several different types of bariatric surgery are currently performed, including gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, lap banding, or adjustable gastric banding. Each surgery comes with distinct complications, qualifications, and after-care requirements.
What Happens After Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery has a risk of short-term and long-term health conditions. Some people may experience issues related to the surgery itself, while longer-term complications include bowel obstruction, hernias, ulcers, acid reflux, and more.
Because bariatric surgery comes with these risks and others, doctors mandate a post-treatment plan to ensure the surgery is effective and give the body enough time for proper healing. Generally, patients aren't allowed to eat for several days after surgery and must follow specific diets for a few weeks post-surgery to allow the digestive system to heal. Frequent checkups are also crucial, including blood work and testing.
Vitamin Deficiencies & Bariatric Surgery
Vitamin deficiencies are a lack of vitamins in the body caused by too little intake of the vitamin (primary deficiency) or an underlying condition like malabsorption (secondary deficiency). They are extremely common after bariatric surgery because of the decreased food intake patients will experience post-surgery, in addition to changes to digestion and nutrient absorption. Patients that do not follow post-op food regimens are also at higher risk of deficiency.
Some of the most common vitamin deficiencies after bariatric surgery include iron, copper, and vitamins like B1, B12, C, and D. Experiencing multiple deficiencies at one time is also very common.
Interested in learning more about the signs and symptoms of vitamin deficiencies? Head over to our article that explores what to watch out for.
Because vitamin deficiencies are so common after bariatric surgery, doctors might recommend adding certain nutrients back to the diet in an effort to avoid the implications of a deficiency. With newer methods of vitamin absorption available on the market, some people are using vitamin patches instead of pills in addition to eating a healthy diet full of natural vitamin sources.
Do Vitamin Patches Work for Bariatric Patients?
If you've recently had or are planning to have bariatric surgery, you might wonder whether vitamin patches will be an option after your procedure. While they may work for some patients, it's important that you ask your doctor before using any vitamin patches. Ensuring your body has enough nutrients as it heals is essential, and vitamin patches may not work for everyone. So, talk to your doctor first before beginning a patch regimen.
Are you thinking, "How do bariatric vitamin patches work?" Well, they're just another way to absorb vitamins. Multivitamin patches are made using transdermal delivery systems, a type of technology that employs the porous nature of the skin to give the body access to ingredients.
Using vitamin patches after bariatric surgery works like this: you first choose a vitamin patch that includes the nutrients your doctor recommends you focus on. Then, you apply the patch daily to clean, dry skin and leave it on for 12-24 hours, or however long your doctor recommends. The ingredients are delivered to your system through the skin, bypassing the first-pass effect and heading straight into systemic circulation.
If you struggle to swallow pills or have other issues that prevent you from taking vitamins by mouth, patches offer another option. They're safe and effective and can be used at any time of the day, even before bed. Vitamin patches also come without the harmful ingredients you find in some vitamin pills, like additives, fillers, sugars, and oils. And you can find vitamin patches with a variety of different nutritional ingredients, so there's an option for everyone.
Finding the Best Vitamin Patches for Bariatric Patients
The after-effects of bariatric surgery can be serious, and it's important to make sure your body gets what it needs to heal and stay healthy in the long term. If your doctor decides that vitamin patches will work for you, it's essential that you find a patch that contains the specific ingredients your body needs.
At OnMi, our vitamin patches include vitamin B1, vitamin B6, vitamin A, and vitamin D - some of the most commonly lacking vitamins in post-op bariatric patients. All patches are made with only natural botanicals and are third-party tested for safety and quality. Discuss OnMi patches with your doctor to see if they're right for you, and head to our online vitamin shop to find a variety of other nutrient patches.
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