Post-Bariatric Surgery
Recommended Blood Tests
Nutritional monitoring is essential after bariatric surgery to make sure long-term nutritional problems don't develop. Here's the exact lab schedule we recommend for every procedure — and what each panel measures.
Lab work is your early-warning system
Routine blood tests after bariatric surgery let your team catch nutrient deficiencies long before symptoms appear. Abnormal results aren't always caused by the surgery itself — but staying on schedule means you and your bariatric team can adjust nutrition, supplements, or treatment quickly if needed.
Please Complete the Following Labs
Two parts: a core panel that every bariatric patient should run, plus an additional set required specifically for Bypass and Duodenal Switch patients due to greater nutrient-absorption changes.
Core Lab Panel (All Procedures)
Required for every bariatric patient — review on schedule
- Complete Blood Count (CBC)
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
- Iron panel (iron, ferritin, TIBC)
- Vitamin B12
- Folate
- Vitamin D
- Calcium
- Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) — if available
Additional Labs (Bypass / DS)
Extra panels for procedures with more nutrient-absorption impact
- Vitamin A
- Zinc
- Thiamine (Vitamin B1)
- Bypass and DS reduce absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A) and trace minerals (Zinc)
- Thiamine deficiency is rare but serious — early detection prevents complications
- Most labs report low values fast so adjustments can be made
Your First-Year Lab Roadmap
A quick visual reference for when to schedule each round of post-op blood work. Keep this handy or save it to your calendar.
What Your Blood Panels Actually Measure
Four core categories of tests give your bariatric team a complete picture of your post-op health and nutrient absorption.
CBC & Metabolic Panel
Complete Blood Count (red/white cells, hemoglobin) plus CMP — electrolytes, glucose, kidney and liver markers.
Iron Panel
Iron, ferritin, and TIBC — catches iron deficiency before it becomes anemia, especially common after bypass.
Vitamins & Minerals
Vitamin B12, D, Folate, Calcium, plus PTH if available. Add Vitamin A, Zinc & Thiamine for Bypass/DS.
Bone & Hormone Health
Calcium + Vitamin D + PTH together monitor bone density and parathyroid response — key post-bariatric markers.
Where to Complete Your Labs
You can complete these blood tests at most local labs. Below are the most common providers in the United States and Canada — your coordinator can also help with referrals or guidance.
United States
Many U.S. labs let you order tests with a physician's order — and several offer self-ordered options if you don't have a referral on hand.
- ✓Quest Diagnostics — physician order or self-ordered tests
- ✓Labcorp — physician order or self-ordered tests
Canada
Canadian labs typically require a written requisition. You can get one from your family doctor or via a telemedicine service if needed.
- ✓LifeLabs — requisition required
- ✓Dynacare — requisition required
📌 If a Vitamin Comes Back Low
Don't panic — it's expected occasionally and easy to fix. Your nutritionist will adjust your diet and supplement protocol, and we'll repeat the affected vitamin test 3 months later to confirm levels are back in range.
Quality Care, Personalized to Every Patient
ALO Bariatrics provides quality treatment delivered by quality health professionals in a quality environment. We recognize that no two patients are the same — and we take great pride in working with each individual to achieve the best possible long-term result.
Our pursuit of excellence is driven by a high-caliber team of healthcare professionals led by our chief surgeon and supported by bilingual coordinators, nutritionists, and lifelong follow-up.