On average, it takes two to five weeks for individuals to recover from gastric bypass surgery and return to their normal daily activities. Laparoscopic gastric bypass surgeries, which involve the surgeon making small cuts, are becoming increasingly popular due to their shorter recovery time. Most people stay in the hospital for 2-3 days and are able to resume their regular activities within 3-5 weeks. However, the real recovery period for those who have undergone gastric bypass surgery lasts a lifetime.
This is because they must adhere to strict eating and exercise habits in order to maintain their weight loss. Hospital stays for laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery are usually shorter than those for open surgery. In addition, many people experience health benefits right away after undergoing gastric bypass or other types of weight-loss surgery.