Hands icon

Trusted by 140,000+ people for their vitamin and mineral needs

Hands icon

Trusted by 140,000+ people for their vitamin and mineral needs

Trustpilot score: 4.1 out of 5

Everything you need to know about a Biliopancreatic Diversion/-Duodenal Switch

Discover what a Biliopancreatic Diversion/-Duodenal Switch is and why extra vitamins are essential afterward.

BPD-DS

Biliopancreatic Diversion/-Duodenal Switch

BPD

Biliopancreatic Diversion

What is a Biliopancreatic Diversion-Duodenal Switch (BPD-DS)?

A Biliopancreatic Diversion and a Biliopancreatic Diversion-Duodenal Switch are surgeries for people with severe obesity. In both procedures, a large part of your stomach is removed. Your small intestine is split into two parts. One part is attached to the reduced stomach. The other part is attached to the last part of the small intestine, close to your large intestine. This makes your digestive tract much shorter. With a BPD, you keep more of your stomach than with a BPD-DS.

The stomach reduction and intestine redirection mean that you must eat less, especially with a BPD-DS, resulting in weight loss. However, these surgeries can also have unpleasant side effects, so they are suitable only for people with severe obesity.

Who is a suitable BPD-DS recipient?

You have a BMI of around 50
BMI around 50
You have not been able to lose weight with other methods
Losing weight didn't work with other methods
Your doctor considers a BPD-DS as the best solution for you
Your doctor advises Biliopancreatic Diversion/Duodenal Switch

Your stomach after your Biliopancreatic Diversion-Duodenal Switch

After the surgery, your stomach is about 85 % smaller, the size of a banana, so you can eat only small portions.

After a Biliopancreatic Diversion/Duodenal Switch, your stomach will be smaller
After a Biliopancreatic Diversion/Duodenal Switch, your stomach will be smaller

Your stomach after your Biliopancreatic Diversion

After your surgery, your stomach is approximately 67 % smaller. This means you must eat smaller portions than usual. Your stomach is reduced horizontally (widthwise).

After a Biliopancreatic Diversion, your stomach is smaller
After a Biliopancreatic Diversion, your stomach is smaller

How does the recovery from a Biliopancreatic Diversion-Duodenal Switch proceed?

BPD and a BPD-DS are abdominal surgeries under anaesthesia. This is a big intervention for your body. Therefore, take it easy after the procedure. This is beneficial for your recovery. On average, the recovery from a BPD-DS takes 3 to 6 weeks. During this period, it is important to follow the advice of your doctor.

This timeline is an indication of recovery after a Biliopancreatic Diversion-Duodenal Switch. How long recovery takes and how it proceeds varies. Your doctor can tell you more about this.

Surgery
Biliopancreatic Diversion/Duodenal Switch surgery
1 week: you may drive, walk and cycle again, but carefully
Cautious driving, walking and cycling again after a Biliopancreatic Diversion/Duodenal Switch
2 weeks: you may eat solid food again
Eating solid food again after a Biliopancreatic Diversion/Duodenal Switch
6 weeks: you may lift and exercise again, but carefully
Carefully lifting and exercising again after a Biliopancreatic Diversion/Duodenal Switch

The advantages and disadvantages of a Biliopancreatic Diversion-Duodenal Switch

You usually lose 85 % of your excess weight, which makes you feel fitter.

Problems with your blood sugar decrease or disappear.

Unpleasant consequences of your overweight decrease or disappear.

Due to the surgery, you absorb much fewer vitamins and minerals. Deficiencies can lead to problems.

Food intolerances can (temporarily) occur. Often this concerns meat, dairy, bread, and pasta.

The surgery alone is not the solution. Your healthy lifestyle, mindset and nutrition are just as important to lose weight and stay fit.

No surgery is without risk. This certainly applies to a Biliopancreatic Diversion-Duodenal Switch.

Why do you need extra vitamins and minerals after a Biliopancreatic Diversion-Duodenal Switch?

These surgeries reduce the intake number of vitamins and minerals. This is because your stomach is reduced and you consume less, but also because a large part of the small intestine is cut off from food, and nutrients are best absorbed here. This increases the risk of deficiencies after a Biliopancreatic Diversion-Duodenal Switch.

BPD-DS

Biliopancreatic Diversion-Duodenal Switch

BPD

Biliopancreatic Diversion

In addition, after your stomach reduction, you may not be able to tolerate certain foods (temporarily). This mainly applies to:

  • Meat: source of protein, vitamin B12 and iron.
  • Dairy: source of calcium.
  • Bread and pasta: source of fiber.

What happens if you don't get enough vitamins and minerals?

A vitamin or mineral deficiency doesn't show up right away. It's likely you won't notice it for a while. For example, you might sleep worse or feel more tired faster. You may also experience hair loss. After a Biliopancreatic Diversion-Duodenal Switch, you lose weight quickly, but extra vitamins and minerals are more important than ever – now and in the future. Taking a multivitamin makes this easier for you. Prevention is better than cure!

A multivitamin tailored to your Biliopancreatic Diversion-Duodenal Switch

To be fair? A daily multivitamin is not a miracle pill for your health. It does help you prevent deficiencies. It is extra difficult to absorb nutrients after a BPD-DS. That is why a multivitamin is important after your surgery to stay balanced. Through scientific research, we understand which nutrients are important after a Biliopancreatic Diversion-Duodenal Switch. We have combined these vitamins and minerals into one package: a multivitamin with free Vitamin A tablets.


  • WLS Maximum: scientifically proven
    Scientifically proven effective
  • WLS Maximum: tailored to your surgery
    Tailored to your surgery
  • WLS Maximum: easy capsule with free Vitamin A tablet
    Easy capsule with free Vitamin A tablet
  • WLS Maximum: makes your healthy lifestyle easy
    Make maintaining a healthy lifestyle easier

Here's how we help you find more balance

Choosing a Biliopancreatic Diversion-Duodenal Switch is brave. After all, it has a lasting impact on your body and lifestyle. That is why we help you with scientifically supported multivitamins, advice, and a listening ear. We are here in the good and the difficult moments. And we make it as easy as possible for you. We deliver your multivitamins to your door when it suits you. This way, it's easier for you to stick to your healthy choices.

Continuous scientific research
Advantage FitForMe: developed in collaboration with healthcare professionals
Stay healthy the easy way with your Subscription
Advantage FitForMe: a Subscription makes it easier to stay healthy
Worldwide free home delivery
Advantage FitForMe: free home delivery worldwide
Personal advice from our dieticians
Advantage FitForMe: personal advice from dieticians

FitForMe is here for you

Taking a daily multivitamin tailored to your stomach reduction contributes to your health, not only before and after the surgery, but for the rest of your life. We are here to support you on your way to better balance.

Customer service

”I was always skeptical about using nutritional supplements, but after a medical procedure, it was highly recommended by the specialist. FitForMe has helped to ensure that my values are always good. Furthermore, it is nice that FitForMe always restocks on time. I am glad that I chose them.”

FitForMe Customer
FitForMe Customer

”After my weight loss surgery, I came in contact with FitForMe. They helped me to take the right supplements. I feel great!”

FitForMe customer
FitForMe Customer

Disclaimer

Supplements are an addition to your diet. Choose healthy and varied food and get enough exercise. Do not exceed the recommended dose. Do not use this product unless you have had a Biliopancreatic Diversion-Duodenal Switch and are 18 years or older. Are you pregnant or breastfeeding? Then you can use WLS Maximum, but do not take the extra Vitamin A tablet.

Validated