- First weeks: liquid and puréed food, pain and nausea.
- First months: little appetite and changes in taste.
- After 3-6 months: temporary hair loss is common.
- After weight loss: loose skin, sometimes a reason for surgery.
- Real stories: at the centres and at Bariatrie Groep Nederland.
Which experiences come up most often?
The first weeks after surgery are about recovery: pain and nausea are the most common complaints, and you eat liquid and puréed food. Many people are surprised by how little they can eat and how quickly they feel full.
What follows is a phase that stories often describe as mixed. Weight drops fast and conditions such as sleep apnoea or high blood pressure improve. At the same time, people sometimes have hardly any appetite for weeks or months, tastes change and you have to eat without feeling hungry. That can lead to doubt or low mood.
Hair loss, loose skin and dumping: the physical side
Hair loss often starts three to six months after surgery. It is hormonal, recovers by itself, and shampoos or extra supplements have no proven effect; taking your vitamins faithfully does matter. Loose skin differs per person and can only be removed with surgery, which is not always reimbursed. After a bypass, many people describe dumping after sugar or fat: sweating, palpitations and dizziness that pass within about 45 minutes.
Regret: how often and why?
Regret happens, usually temporarily during recovery. WeightWorks and the Bariatrisch Centrum name loss of appetite, changes in taste and having to eat without hunger as causes. There is rarely one single cause: physical, dietary, social and psychological factors are intertwined. Always discuss doubts with your team; it is not a sign that things are going wrong.
In the long term, researchers describe that weight loss holds well for up to about ten years, but that research into mental effects and quality of life in the long term is still lacking.
What people find positive and what they find hard
Advantages
| Advantage | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Weight loss | mainly in the first year, then stable |
| Health | fewer complaints such as high blood pressure and joint pain |
| Type 2 diabetes | often less or no medication after a bypass |
| Moving | cycling, walking and sport become possible again |
Points of attention
| Point of attention | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Appetite | little hunger, yet eating six times a day |
| Hair loss | temporary, from 3-6 months |
| Loose skin | surgery not always reimbursed |
| Social life | dinners and parties need adjusting |
Cost and insurance (2026)
Experiences are also about money: surgery is covered with an indication, but some costs you pay yourself.
| Item | Amount or arrangement |
|---|---|
| Surgery (with indication) | €385 deductible 2026 |
| Vitamins | €10-€15 a month |
| Skin surgery | not always reimbursed |
| Clothing | several sizes in the first year |
Patient experiences: key figures
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Hair loss starts | 3-6 months after surgery |
| Dumping lasts | usually no longer than 45 minutes |
| First year | no pregnancy, no fasting |
| Meals per day | 6 |
| Between eating and drinking | at least 30 minutes |
Where to find reliable experiences
| Source | What you find | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Vitalys | patient stories per treatment | patients rate Vitalys 8.9 |
| WeightWorks | stories and articles by surgeons | own clinic, own perspective |
| Bariatrie Groep Nederland | peer contact, chat room, magazine | patient association since 2018 |
| Information sessions | questions to experienced patients | often online and free |
| Social media | many stories, varying quality | check medical claims |
Step by step
- Information session. Hear stories from experienced patients.
- Peer support. Join Bariatrie Groep Nederland.
- Expectations. Discuss hopes and fears during screening.
- After surgery. Report complaints and doubts right away.
- Long term. Keep attending check-ups, even when things go well.
Read next
- Recovery after surgery — the first weeks
- Aftercare and support — check-ups
- Sleeve or bypass — choosing
- Types of weight loss surgery — all options
How to judge a patient story
A story on social media says something about one person. Check which operation someone had, how long ago, in which country and whether they followed the aftercare. Stories from abroad are often about a pathway without the guidance that is standard in the Netherlands.
Always check medical claims in patient stories with your centre, for example claims that vitamins are not needed. Use stories mainly to decide which questions you want to ask.
Frequently asked questions about experiences with weight loss surgery
Stories are often positive about weight loss and health gains, while many people describe a hard first period. Research into satisfaction and quality of life in the long term is still limited.
Pain and nausea are most common. You eat liquid and puréed food and tire quickly. Light movement such as walking is allowed straight away; sport is built up after two weeks.
Yes. Little appetite for weeks or months is mentioned in many stories. The advice is still to eat six small meals a day, so you get enough protein and nutrients.
Not everyone, but it is common, usually three to six months after surgery. It is temporary and recovers by itself. Keep taking your multivitamins every day.
Regret happens, often temporarily during recovery. Hard national figures are lacking. Causes are usually a mix of loss of appetite, changes in taste and social and psychological factors.
At the centres themselves, such as Vitalys and WeightWorks, and at the Dutch patient association Bariatrie Groep Nederland, which offers peer contact and a chat room. Information sessions often include experienced patients.
By taking small portions, not eating and drinking at the same time and limiting alcohol. Fasting is discouraged in the first year. Many people tell the host in advance that they eat little.
It varies with age and how much weight is lost. Only surgery removes it, and that is not always reimbursed. Discuss complaints during a check-up.
As sudden sweating, palpitations, dizziness or sleepiness after sugar or fat, mainly after a bypass. Many people quickly learn which foods to avoid; lying down helps.
That the result depends on keeping an eye on eating habits. Weight loss holds well for up to about ten years; some weight gradually returns after that, and guidance and check-ups help.
Call +31 6 38048347 (Mon–Fri 09:00–17:00) or email info@maagverkleining-info.nl. This page is also available in Dutch.
Sources
- Vitalys (Rijnstate): FAQ and patient stories
- WeightWorks and Bariatrisch Centrum: regret after surgery
- Stichting Bariatrie Groep Nederland
- Prof. Luc Van Gaal (Antwerp University Hospital): long-term results
Search terms leading here: weight loss surgery experiences, gastric bypass experiences Netherlands, life after weight loss surgery, regret after gastric bypass.
Author: Gijs Bodenstaff. Last reviewed: September 2026.