I was off 3 weeks the only thing that was sore was my port area. When you have your surgery the first week you will have lots of gas and it hurts make sure you have gas x strips there awesome it helped me out alot and walk alot the more you walk the faster the pain goes away. I have had my band for 2 months and i have lost 43 pounds um doing well and love my band it sure works . Good luck keep in touch